Christ of the Deep

 The approximate nine foot bronze sculpture symbolizes peace of mankind from its unusual setting - beneath the ocean at Key Largo Dry Rocks off John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.  Tourists are heavily discouraged from touching the Christ statue, not only because it will disturb the ecosystem forming, but because of the bright red coral present on the arms can give you one hell of a welt. It's poisonous. The statue of Christ of the Abyss resides at this reef. In 24 feet of water, on top of a three tiered concrete pedestal, the statue of Christ keeps constant vigil to the heavens. A patch reef surrounds the statue with very typical spur and groove formation. Its depths range from 30 feet to less than 0, as many parts actually come up out of the water at low tide. Sea rods and sea whips are numerous around the outside edges of this circular reef and very large examples of Brain coral are represented. One of the most requested sites in the National Marine Sanctuary. A third bronze from the original mould was presented to the Underwater Society of America in New York in 1962. On August 25, 1965 it was placed approximately in 25 feet of water off the coast of Key Largo, Florida. It is located around Dry Rocks, around six miles east of Key Largo in the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. While the statue weighs around 260 kg, the concrete base to which it is attached weighs about 9 tons. The original clay statue minus the hands was located in a foundry in 1993. This is now on display with replacement hands at the National Museum of Underwater Activities in Ravenna, Italy.