The newly unveiled Deepwater Diving Monument at the Santa Barbara Harbor has been selected as the 2025 Art in Public Space winner by Santa Barbara Beautiful, the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) has announced.

The sculpture honors the city’s deepwater diving legacy and commemorates Santa Barbara as the birthplace of commercial mixed-gas diving.

Designed by local sculptor Greg Polutanovich, the eight-foot-tall bronze diver with a granite base captures the spirit of 1980s commercial diving and features the iconic Kirby Morgan Superlite 17 helmet, SBMM said.

“It honors all the diving pioneers and our city as the birthplace of deepwater commercial diving,” said Don Barthelmess, co-chair of the diving monument committee.

“Coming together from private donations, the sale of fine-art statuettes, and Santa Barbara Maritime Museum serving as fiscal agent, this monument stands as a visible testament to Santa Barbara’s diving innovation,” he said.

“Together we have created something truly remarkable – a monument that celebrates a defining moment in our nation’s diving history and recognizes the ingenuity, courage and dedication of all those who have contributed to the evolution of deep-water diving,” said Leslie Leaney, co-chair of the diving monument committee.

“This remarkable public-art installation educates both residents and visitors about our city’s undersea heritage and groundbreaking contributions to international commercial and military diving,” Leaney said.

The Deepwater Diver Monument will be celebrated at Santa Barbara Beautiful’s 60th Anniversary Awards Ceremony, Sunday, Sept. 28 at the Alhecama Theatre.

For more about the monument, visit sbmm.org.