Quick Details
The 5 Ws to Whole Body or Full Body Green Burial at Sea
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Full Body Burial is for anyone, including you and I. Many people are under the impression that Full body Burial is only for the military and that is false. Anyone interested in a green burial option can have this type of service preformed for them.
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At it’s most basic core, Full Body Burial at sea is just that. Taking a whole body out to sea and allowing it to sink to the bottom of the ocean where it can return to nature.
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We perform these types of services year around, whenever the weather allows us to do this.
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For this particular activity we must be at least 3 miles offshore AND at least 600’ down.
Our 3 miles offshore outside Santa Cruz is not 600’ down so we head out around 12 miles from shore and around 1800-6000′ deep.
Families are welcome and encouraged to join us on these trips as they will be approx. 4 hours from dock to dock.
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With the demands from society to find more green burial alternatives and a need to leave less of a carbon footprint this is one of the best options out there. “Sea Spirit” is equipped with a low emission certified diesel engine and we transit at lower rpms to keep the ride as stable and comfortable as possible. As the body is shrouded in all cotton, weighted with local stones and allowed to slowly sink to the bottom it’s easy to see how environmentally responsible this process is. Returning the body to the earth without utilizing land can be an answer for many. Additionally with many religions not embracing cremation this can be a nice fit for some. Placing a body within a decomposable burial shroud will decompose naturally while providing food for various ocean creatures. Providing a continued purpose after death by participating in the natural circle of life can be harmonious and peaceful.
Now for the EPA guidelines details.
The ocean in all its vastness is still a very fragile ecosystem. And for this reason alone, there are some rules that we must abide by.
- All cotton shrouding secured with natural fibers is the most economical and simple way to deliver the body to the seabed floor.
- If a coffin is requested we may use a traditional one with alterations or an eco-friendly wicker or natural fiber casket.
- No embalmed bodies
- No chemotherapy or “medical waste” can be left in the body. Unfortunately, that means cancer patients actively participating in or recently took part in chemotherapy.
- We only use natural rock or sand to weight the body (150lbs or more)