Scattering ashes at sea

[captlloyd]

Yes I agree just do it, no harm, no foul. But as a official involved in a Naional youth sporting activity, I can tell you rules give officials something to what we call "hang our hat on". You would be surprised at what human beings will do when given free reign. It is the old "give them an inch and they take a mile". Always two sides to every issue.

[medevicerep]

They are not really ashes but "cremains". All that is left are the bones so how is this different from crushed shells? I spread both of my parents cremains on the beach and in the surf in front of their last home. Beautiful.

[johnyhask]

I tried to bury my wife at sea....... but she kept swimming back to the boat :-/

[donradcliffe]

Do feels right and beg for forgiveness later:

https://www.ncscooper.com/cascade-sh...Au3HE.facebook

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Davidhoy

My mother-in-law recently passed away, and one of her last wishes was to be cremated and have her ashes scattered at sea. I would have thought this to be a pretty simple, and personal, thing to do, but someone told me it was more complicated than that. Turns out that the EPA has a long list of rules and regulations regarding burial at sea, whether it be intact bodies or cremation ashes.

https://www.epa.gov/ocean-dumping/burial-sea

I was planning on just sailing out on a nice day, drinking a beer or two in her honor (she would approve!), and scattering her ashes. I will likely still do that, regardless of what the government rules are. It's not like there are ashes-police out there, and frankly it's none of their damned business!

-David

Have two beers, one for her and honor her wishes. My mother is someplace off Tampa in the Gulf.

[hsi88]

Originally Posted by johnyhask

I tried to bury my wife at sea....... but she kept swimming back to the boat :-/

LOL - gotta love it.

[desodave]

I'll add my voice to the "just do it" group. And I wouldn't be paying any attention to the 3 mile limit stuff either. Why follow one rule when you're "breaking" the rest? I have scattered the ashes of both my parents by a navigation mark just off a park they loved - 300 yds off shore in the Salish Sea. And I didn't even look at whether there were any regs. Only ask some questions when you already know the answers!

[Dave22q]

I've researched this issue and the regulations generally do not apply if you go beyond the 3 mile limit. Ashes are easy, a full body requires some planning including refrigeration, preventing resurfacing and transportation to the boat. It is absolutely the case that it is better to ask forgiveness than permission.

[Cadence]

Does the EPA cover my pyre on a long ship? I guess I will have to have sons dump my ashes out on an outgoing tide. We don't have icy sidewalks or they could be used to keep someone from slipping.

[Comogene]

My wife is torn and twixt. I told her that I wanted to have a Viking funeral and that way she can collect on both insurance policies. Then she found out that you can compress the ashes into a diamond. Now I'm fearful I will be a landlubber!!

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by fSymo

That sounds beautiful. The regs seem pretty clear that as long as your 3 miles out, no worries. May she rest in peace.

There is no 3 mile regulation, the charter boats like the Neptune society only go out maybe a half mile at the most outside the harbor for the ceremony.

Just do it.

[SV Bacchus]

Originally Posted by Cadence

Have two beers, one for her and honor her wishes. My mother is someplace off Tampa in the Gulf.

Mom is under the computer desk as I type. When dad goes, he is 90, they will be "together forever" somewhere straight west of Tarpon Springs in the Gulf.

In Sarasota there is a company that mixes ashes with concrete and pours them into forms for reef balls. Really neat idea and I was pretty much sold but when I told dad it was $6K, he said "Hell with that, just throw us off the boat."

[SV Bacchus]

Eternal Reefs » Living legacies that memorialize our loved ones

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by SV Bacchus

Mom is under the computer desk as I type. When dad goes, he is 90, they will be "together forever" somewhere straight west of Tarpon Springs in the Gulf.

In Sarasota there is a company that mixes ashes with concrete and pours them into forms for reef balls. Really neat idea and I was pretty much sold but when I told dad it was $6K, he said "Hell with that, just throw us off the boat."

Dad sounds like a sensible man.

[inspectr]

My father died 20 years ago or so. He was a member of Coogee Surf club and wanted to have his ashes scattered at sea. We contacted the club and they organised the surfboat crew to take them out to sea near Wedding Cake Island, and with tossed oars the surfboat captain emptied the urn into the sea.

We watched from the shore with a monster telephoto lens.

Mum sent a donation to the club afterwards and they sent a lovely note back recognising dad's service history.

I drive by the beach often and look out to sea and remember my dad

Nice way to go for someone with salt water in their veins!