Reef Burials

     A few weeks ago I read two blogs, Amy’s and Carly’s, and decided I would follow up and get more detail on the Eternal Reef burials they discuss. Eternal Reef is an organization that takes the cremated remains of a loved one and incorporates the ashes into an environmentally friendly concrete formula that is made into a coral like structure. They started out by making the structures to help develop more habitats for sea life and the creator’s father said he wanted to be included in one when he died and so the practice of this green burial was created. The structures are modeled after real coral and come in different size and can include numerous individuals. Families can chose the size and location of where the reefs are put, but only have a certain number of selections to choose from. After the casts are made, while the concrete is setting, family members can come and personalize the reef by writing or drawing in the setting concrete. Once it is set family members can also draw or write on them with chalk and take rubbings of the personalized plaque placed on the reef. Families are then taken out on a boat and have a tribute reef so they can leave flowers that are provided, and say their goodbyes. Each reef gets a dedication and their names read out as they are placed in the water. You can also buy memorabilia in the form of a certificate, a replica of the plaque, a small model of the reef or Eternal Reef merchandise.
       This form of green burial is a great way to give back to the environment and provide the marine environment with a new habitat and feel you are giving back to the earth even after death and be surrounded by life. I feel it may be harder for the families as there isn’t really a way to go and visit your loved ones unless you are able to scuba dive, as you would be able to with other kinds of burial. But they do provide other ways to keep them close with the small replica of the reef or plaque. The process after making the reef to when they place them in the ocean seems very informal to me. In the video it looks like the viewing area is a field outside the building and doesn’t seem the best place to be saying goodbye to loved ones and paying your respects. When they place the reef into the ocean you are taken out in a boat with other families and able to say your good byes and leave flowers to a tribute reef while they take you to the chosen location. Once at the location the name of the loved one and speech is given as the reefs are placed. It just doesn’t seem like a very formal, personal or private burial practice to me like the ones that we are used to seeing in western society. You are with other strangers who are also grieving and making it a group event rather than just a private family mourning. But that being said it seems a very peaceful place for the deceased to rest and “live out their death” as well as giving back to living marine populations that provide us with so much beauty.

Source

Source

To get more information go here.

After doing more research on Reef Burials, I showed the information to my father. He is a geologist who specializes in carbonates, which often means he gets to go on many trips where he gets to scuba dive and take coral samples for his work. I've always known he wanted to be cremated, but never knew what he'd want after that. After showing him this type of burial he seemed very interested in wanting to be put to rest this way when the time came. He even said that he's taken so many coral samples that he needs to give something back.  Not that I want to think of my dad dying, but I feel like this would be an appropriate burial for him; but I think I would still want to keep some ashes or something of his for myself to keep him close by.