There are a few moments in grief when the world feels strangely quiet, and yet decisions keep arriving. After a cremation, families often expect the “hard part” to be over, only to realize they’re now holding a different kind of responsibility: deciding what to do with ashes in a way that feels respectful, realistic, and true to the person (or pet) you love. Some families feel drawn to the ocean—because it was where a loved one found peace, because it represents freedom, or because they want a legacy that feels like “giving back” instead of simply letting go.
That’s where memorial reefs come in. Programs like Eternal Reefs are part of a growing set of choices families explore when they want an ocean memorial that feels permanent, tangible, and environmentally minded. Instead of a one-time cremation ash scattering at sea, the cremated remains are incorporated into a large reef structure made of marine-grade concrete and placed in a permitted ocean location, where it is designed to function as habitat.
This guide explains how memorial reefs work, what the experience can look like for families, what legal and environmental questions matter most, and how to plan practical details—like temporary storage, keepsakes, and costs—without making the process feel overwhelming.
Why More Families Are Looking for New “Ashes Plans”
The rise of cremation is one reason these options are becoming more visible. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate is projected to be 63.4% in 2025 (versus a projected burial rate of 31.6%), and NFDA projects cremation will continue to rise over the long term. The Cremation Association of North America similarly reports a U.S. cremation rate of 61.8% in 2024, with continued growth projected.
As cremation becomes the norm, the “next question” becomes unavoidable. NFDA’s data highlights that families don’t all want the same outcome: among people who prefer cremation, many want the remains kept at home in an urn, many prefer scattering in a sentimental place, and others prefer cemetery interment or splitting ashes among relatives. Those are deeply personal choices, but they are also logistical ones—and when the plan is unclear, the remains can sit in a closet for months or years while a family waits for the moment that feels right.
At the same time, interest in green funeral options is rising. NFDA reports that 61.4% of respondents would be interested in exploring green funeral options because of environmental benefits, cost savings, or other reasons. Not every ocean-related memorial is automatically “green,” but it’s easy to understand the emotional appeal: the idea that a final tribute could also support life.
What Is a Memorial Reef, and What Is Eternal Reefs?
A memorial reef is an underwater structure created to function as part of an artificial reef system. In reef-memorial programs, cremated remains are incorporated into a concrete mixture and formed into a large structure that is then deployed to the ocean floor in a location that has been approved and permitted for that kind of placement.
In Eternal Reefs’ model, an “Eternal Reef” is described as a designed reef system created from individual reef balls made of environmentally safe, marine grade concrete, placed on the ocean floor as a permanent memorial and habitat. Their explanation of the concept is straightforward: it combines a cremation urn, ash scattering, and burial at sea into one permanent tribute. You can read their overview directly on their page What is an Eternal Reef?.
You’ll also see people describe this idea using phrases like reef ball burial, burial at sea reef, or even “ashes into coral reef.” Those search phrases are trying to name the same core concept: a reef-shaped memorial created from cremated remains and placed in the ocean as part of a larger reef habitat. (The ocean environment varies by location; not every site is a coral reef in the tropical sense, but the goal is reef habitat.)
How Ashes Become a Reef: The Real-World Process
Families often assume a memorial reef is similar to scattering: you go out on a boat, you say goodbye, and the ashes are released. A reef memorial is more involved than that—closer to a multi-step creation process than a single event.
In Eternal Reefs’ “what to expect” description, the process includes a casting day where families may participate in mixing the remains into concrete to form what they call a “pearl,” which becomes a centerpiece that fits inside the reef structure. After the pearl is cast, a layer of specialized concrete covers the top, and families can personalize the surface with handprints, written messages, and environmentally safe mementos (with clear restrictions against plastics or toxic items). That step matters for many families because it transforms a concept into something tactile—something you touched, shaped, and witnessed. See What To Expect for their detailed description of casting, viewing, and placement.
After the casting and preparation, there is a viewing where families can see the finished memorial, take photos, and make rubbings of the bronze plaque. Eternal Reefs describes this as an opportunity to write final messages and tributes on the outside and inside of the memorial before deployment.
Finally comes the placement and dedication at sea. Eternal Reefs’ description includes a family boat ride out to the reef site, where families witness the reef being lowered to the ocean floor and then dedicate the site. They also note that the family boat is a separate cost (they list $75 per person for the charter family boat on their “what to expect” page), and that weather and marine conditions can affect scheduling.
This multi-step arc—creation, viewing, and placement—is one reason reef memorials can feel different emotionally from scattering. Families often describe scattering as beautiful and final, but also fleeting. A reef memorial adds “making” and “witnessing,” which can be meaningful for people who need a more tangible bridge between loss and remembrance.
Environmental Considerations: What “Eco-Friendly” Really Means Here
It’s understandable to search for eco friendly cremation options when you’re looking at ocean memorials. But it helps to separate two ideas that often get blended together: the environmental impact of cremation itself, and the environmental intent of what you do after cremation.
Memorial reef programs position their work as a contribution to marine habitat. Eternal Reefs states that their reefs are made of environmentally safe marine-grade concrete and are designed to assimilate into the natural ocean environment and create habitat. Their Fast Facts document emphasizes that reefs are placed only in properly permitted locations, and their donation-level descriptions frame the reefs as permanent contributions to the marine environment. (For their summary of locations, permitting, and cost ranges, see their PDF Fast Facts.)
From a practical planning standpoint, the most important “environmental” questions for a family are usually these: Is the placement site legally permitted for artificial reefs? What materials are allowed or prohibited? How does the organization handle debris prevention (for example, no plastics)? And what stewardship exists after placement?
It’s also wise to be cautious about absolute promises. A memorial reef can be designed to support marine life, but marine ecosystems are complex. A responsible provider should be able to explain site selection, permitting, material standards, and long-term documentation (such as GPS coordinates) without overselling results.
Legal and Permit Questions: Burial at Sea vs. Reef Placement
This is where families can accidentally mix up two very different frameworks: scattering cremated remains at sea, and placing a permanent structure in the ocean.
For straightforward water burial or burial at sea of cremated remains in U.S. ocean waters, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency explains the baseline rules under the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act general permit. The EPA states that cremated remains may be buried in ocean waters of any depth as long as the burial takes place at least three nautical miles from land, and that certain materials (like plastic or metal flowers) are not allowed because they are not readily decomposable. The EPA also requires reporting to the EPA within 30 days following the event. See the EPA’s official page Burial at Sea.
However, the EPA also makes an important distinction: the general permit does not authorize placing non-decomposable materials (and it specifically flags “artificial reefs” in that category) under that permit framework. In other words, a reef memorial is not a do-it-yourself project under the standard burial-at-sea general permit. A reef memorial program should be operating under an appropriate permitting and regulatory framework for artificial reef placement, and the organization—not your family—should be able to explain how they handle compliance.
One more nuance matters for families who are blending human and pet memorialization. The EPA notes that pet remains are not covered under the MPRSA general permit for burial at sea. At the same time, Eternal Reefs states that inclusion of “normal sized house pets” may be included with a human memorial reef (with limitations) and that this is a common request. That is exactly the type of question you should raise directly with a provider: how pet remains are handled in their process and under what permits and rules they operate. See Eternal Reefs’ inclusion statement and what is included (bronze plaque, GPS survey, and certificates) on their Donation Levels page.
What a Reef Memorial Costs, and What That Cost Usually Includes
Families often search reef memorial cost early because they want to understand whether this is “in reach” or purely aspirational. Costs vary by reef size, location, and whether attendance and travel are part of the plan.
Eternal Reefs’ Fast Facts document states that costs range from $4,000 to $9,000 depending on reef size, with the family boat trip for placement and dedication as an additional fee. Their Donation Levels page lists example prices (for example, Aquarius, Nautilus, and Mariner tiers) and clarifies what is included: the reef of your choice, a bronze plaque with inscription, inclusion of cremated remains (including normal sized house pets with limitations), transportation to the reef site, final placement and dedication, a GPS survey to record the specific location, and memorial certificates showing GPS location. See Eternal Reefs & Donation Levels and their Fast Facts summary.
How does that fit into the broader picture of how much does cremation cost and what families typically spend? NFDA reports that the national median cost of a funeral with viewing and cremation was $6,280 in 2023 (and $8,300 for a funeral with viewing and burial). Those numbers do not include every local variable, but they help explain why many families choose a timeline like “direct cremation now, memorial later, final placement when ready.” (NFDA cost figures are summarized on their Statistics page.) If you want a practical breakdown of what drives cremation pricing, Funeral.com’s guide How Much Does Cremation Cost in the U.S.? can help you compare quotes without getting lost in package language.
Where Urns and Keepsakes Fit Into an Ocean Memorial Plan
Even when a family’s “final destination” is an ocean reef, there’s still almost always an interim period where the remains are at home or in a temporary container. That’s why cremation urns and keepsakes are still part of reef planning—not because you’re changing your mind, but because real life requires a calm, secure way to hold the remains while the schedule and travel details come together.
If you are planning to keep the remains at home for a while, it helps to think in terms of keeping ashes at home safely and intentionally. A stable place, a secure closure, and a dedicated memorial space can make the months in between feel less like “limbo” and more like a quiet pause. Funeral.com’s article Is It OK to Keep Cremation Ashes at Home? walks through practical best practices and common concerns.
For many families, the simplest approach is to choose a secure primary urn first and decide the final plan afterward. That can mean browsing cremation urns for ashes for a full-size container that feels dignified and stable, then later deciding what portion (if any) will be used in a reef memorial. If you already know you want to divide remains—some for the reef, some for family members—keepsake urns are designed for symbolic portions, and small cremation urns can be a meaningful middle ground when you want “more than a pinch” but not a full capacity.
Wearable memorials can also fit gently into an ocean plan, especially for family members who live far away and can’t attend the dedication. Cremation jewelry and cremation necklaces are designed to hold a small portion of ashes in a secure chamber. If you want to browse options, Funeral.com’s cremation jewelry and cremation necklaces collections are organized by common styles and materials. If you want a practical guide to how these pieces work, including filling and sealing considerations, see Cremation Jewelry 101.
Pet loss adds another layer of tenderness, and it’s common for families to want pet memorialization that feels as meaningful as what they would do for a person. If you are choosing pet urns, Funeral.com’s pet urns for ashes collection includes a wide range of sizes and styles, while pet figurine cremation urns and pet keepsake cremation urns offer more specific “this feels like them” formats. For guidance on sizing and types, you can reference Pet Urns for Ashes: A Complete Guide for Dog and Cat Owners.
Questions to Ask Before You Commit to a Reef Memorial
A reef memorial can be a beautiful choice, but it is also a marine construction project with legal, environmental, and logistical constraints. If you want the calmest experience, ask questions early—before travel is booked or assumptions harden into expectations.
- Where are the reef sites located, and what permits govern placement? A credible provider should be able to explain that reefs are placed only in properly permitted locations and describe the approving agencies involved.
- What exactly is included in the price? Ask whether the bronze plaque, GPS survey, documentation, and placement/dedication are included, and what costs are separate (such as the family boat). Eternal Reefs lists inclusions and documentation details on their donation levels page.
- How much of the remains are used, and what happens to the rest? Some families want all remains included; others want a portion reserved for home, sharing, or jewelry. Eternal Reefs notes that they can use all, some, or none of the cremated remains in their Fast Facts document.
- What materials are permitted for personalization? You want clarity about what is allowed (and what is not) so you do not accidentally bring prohibited items such as plastics.
- What is the plan if weather delays placement? If travel is involved, ask how rescheduling works and what documentation or media (photos/video) is provided if attendance is not possible.
- If pets are involved, how are they handled in the process and under applicable regulations? This is a place where families should seek clear, written explanations rather than assumptions.
If You’re Also Considering Scattering or a Water Burial, Know the Rules
Some families find peace in a simple ocean scattering. Others want the permanence of a reef. And many families do a combination: keep some at home, place some in a reef, and scatter a portion during a private moment. If you’re weighing options like water burial or scattering, it helps to anchor your plan in the official rules and then choose the ritual that fits your family.
The U.S. EPA’s burial-at-sea rules are the key reference point for U.S. ocean waters, including the “three nautical miles from land” requirement, restrictions on non-decomposable materials, and the requirement to report the burial at sea to the EPA within 30 days. See Burial at Sea (EPA). For a family-friendly explanation of what that means in practice, you can also read Funeral.com’s guide Water Burial and Burial at Sea: What “3 Nautical Miles” Means.
If you’re still at the “I don’t even know what I’m choosing yet” stage, that’s normal. Many families start by answering the simplest question—keeping ashes at home or choosing an urn—before they commit to a final plan. Funeral.com’s article what to do with ashes is designed for exactly that moment: when you want options explained without pressure.
How to Make the Decision Without Rushing Grief
A reef memorial can be a deeply fitting tribute, especially for someone who lived near the ocean, loved to fish or dive, served in the Navy, or simply felt most like themselves near water. It can also be meaningful for families who want their goodbye to carry a sense of contribution—an ongoing, living presence rather than a single event.
But the best decision is the one that fits your family’s emotional reality and your logistical reality at the same time. If you need time, it is okay to take it. If you need a temporary plan, that is not “indecision”—it is funeral planning in its most humane form: choosing a step you can actually live with right now. If planning ahead is part of your goal, you may find it helpful to document your wishes in a written plan so your family is not left guessing later. Funeral.com’s guide How to Preplan a Funeral includes practical guidance on writing down your ashes plan alongside the rest of your end-of-life preferences.
If you’re leaning toward a memorial reef, the next best step is simple: ask for clear details about location, permitting, what is included, how remains are handled, and what your family will receive afterward (GPS coordinates, certificates, documentation). A reputable provider will welcome those questions. And regardless of where the final memorial is—at sea, at home, in a cemetery, or shared among family—what matters most is that the plan honors the life you’re carrying forward.
