There are some memorial decisions that feel straightforward—choose a date, write an obituary, pick flowers that would have made them smile. And then there are decisions that feel bigger than logistics. If you are reading this, you may be holding one of those questions: what to do with ashes when you want something meaningful, lasting, and connected to the natural world.
A memorial reef cremation ashes option can feel like an answer that holds both grief and hope at the same time. Instead of a traditional cemetery setting, the idea is to create a permanent structure on the ocean floor that can provide habitat for marine life while also serving as a place of remembrance—an ocean memorial reef that turns loss into a living tribute.
This guide will walk you through how reef memorials typically work, what families can expect during memorial reef installation, and how providers like eternal reefs and other reef memorial services compare. Along the way, we will also keep the rest of your plan in view—because even if your final vision is underwater, most families still spend time thinking about keeping ashes at home, choosing cremation urns for ashes, and deciding whether keepsake urns or cremation jewelry should be part of the story.
Why Memorial Reefs Are Becoming Part of the Conversation
Cremation is no longer a niche choice in the United States. According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the U.S. cremation rate is projected to reach 63.4% in 2025—more than double the projected burial rate. And the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) reports a U.S. cremation rate of 61.8% in 2024, with continued growth projected.
Those numbers matter because they explain why questions about ashes are so common now. Families are navigating more choices than ever—how to memorialize without a burial plot, how to honor someone who loved the water, and how to create something that feels less like “storing remains” and more like continuing a relationship in a new form.
A reef memorial is one of several sea burial alternatives. Some families prefer a traditional water burial or scattering ceremony. Others want a permanent place they can revisit—by boat, by dive, or even just by knowing the coordinates and imagining the ocean continuing its quiet work.
How a Memorial Reef Is Made, Step by Step
The details vary by provider, but most reef memorial programs follow the same general arc: planning, creation, curing, and placement. In plain terms, the process is about taking cremated remains and incorporating them into a marine-safe structure designed to sit on the ocean floor and function as habitat.
Step One: You Start With a Plan for the Ashes
Before anything underwater happens, families need a secure, respectful way to hold the remains. This is where many people begin with cremation urns—often choosing a primary urn first, then deciding later whether to divide a portion into small cremation urns, keepsake urns, or cremation necklaces.
If you need a calm starting point, Funeral.com’s collection of cremation urns for ashes can help you see what “primary urn” options look like in real life. If you are already leaning toward sharing ashes among family members, it is worth browsing small cremation urns and keepsake urns early, because it can reduce stress later when timelines start to solidify.
Many families also find that wearable keepsakes help during the waiting period. If that resonates, explore cremation jewelry or the focused collection of cremation necklaces, then read the practical guide Cremation Jewelry Guide: Urn Pendants, Charms & Beads That Hold Ashes when you are ready.
Step Two: The Remains Are Incorporated Into a Reef Structure
Most reef programs use a concrete-based material designed for marine conditions. For example, Eternal Reefs describes a family-participation process it calls a “casting,” where families can mix cremated remains into concrete to form a “pearl” that fits inside a pre-cast reef ball structure. Their FAQ explains the “pearl” concept and the way the memorial is completed and personalized during casting.
If you want the provider’s description in their own words, you can read Eternal Reefs’ explanation on their Frequently Asked Questions page and their detailed event overview on What To Expect.
This is also the part of the process where families decide what “portion” means. Some families incorporate all remains into the memorial. Others choose to hold back a small amount for a home memorial or for a few individuals who want a personal connection through keepsake urns or cremation jewelry. There is no universally “correct” choice—there are choices that match your relationships, your household, and your long-term comfort.
Step Three: Curing and Preparation for Placement
Once a reef memorial is created, it typically needs time to cure and be prepared for ocean placement. Providers often schedule placements in groups, both for logistical reasons and because offshore work is highly dependent on weather and marine conditions. Eternal Reefs, for example, describes a multi-day flow that includes casting, preparation, viewing, and then the placement and dedication at sea.
Step Four: Placement in a Permitted Reef Site
Placement is often the most emotionally intense day, because it is both ceremonial and practical. There is a boat, a schedule, a team doing marine work, and then a moment where the memorial is lowered and becomes part of the ocean floor. Eternal Reefs describes families witnessing the reef being lowered and participating in dedication activities, including flowers and a formal dedication at the site.
Other providers may handle placement on your behalf if you cannot travel or if you prefer a quieter approach. Some programs explicitly offer attended and unattended options; Eternal Reefs lists “unattended” tiers and describes what is typically included with an Eternal Reef (reef, plaque, transport, placement, and GPS surveying) on their Donation Levels page.
What Families Can Expect During Installation and Dedication
It helps to say this plainly: memorial reef installation is not only a ceremony. It is also marine construction. Even when it is handled with great care, it happens in a world governed by tide, wind, waves, and equipment.
With attended programs, families typically travel to the designated area, participate in the creation or personalization of the memorial, and then return for the offshore dedication. Eternal Reefs notes that families and friends can attend and participate, but that participation is optional, which matters if grief makes hands-on involvement feel like too much.
On placement day, families generally meet at a dock and ride to the reef site. Providers may include a structured dedication, name announcements, and a moment for final words before the memorial is lowered. Eternal Reefs also notes there is a separate fee for the family boat, and their “What To Expect” page lists a per-person cost for those who attend the placement by boat.
If you are considering whether children should attend, it can help to remember that the ocean itself can be both grounding and unpredictable. The most important question is not whether it is “appropriate,” but whether it will feel safe and supportive for your particular family. Some families bring children for the onshore parts—casting or viewing—then keep placement day adult-only. Others keep the whole experience small and private and create a separate family ritual on land later.
Environmental and Legal Considerations You Should Not Skip
Many families choose a reef memorial because it feels like an eco friendly cremation memorial. It can be, especially when the structure is designed and placed as an artificial reef habitat and is deployed through established regulatory channels. But “eco-friendly” is not a label you should accept without questions. Ask what the structure is made of, how it is permitted, and what agencies oversee the placement.
One regulatory point is especially important: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency makes a clear distinction between burial at sea of cremated remains and the placement of permanent structures that incorporate cremated remains. On its Burial at Sea guidance page, the EPA states that cremated remains incorporated into an artificial reef structure are not eligible for authorization under the general permit for burial at sea, and it notes that structures placed for a purpose other than disposal may require permitting through entities such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
That is not a reason to avoid memorial reefs. It is a reason to make sure your provider is doing this correctly—working through the appropriate permitting channels, coordinating with relevant agencies, and placing structures in sites that are intended and approved for artificial reef development. A reputable provider should be able to explain, in plain language, what permits apply to their reef sites and who holds them.
It is also worth understanding that not all “reef memorials” are the same. Some programs place reef-ball-style modules designed primarily as habitat. Others function more like an underwater columbarium or memorial garden, where remains are incorporated into artistic structural features. Both can be meaningful. The best choice depends on what you want the memorial to be: a habitat-first reef, a symbolic underwater monument, or a blend of both.
Comparing Reef Memorial Providers: What Is Actually Different?
Families often search terms like reef ball memorial, turn ashes into reef, or underwater memorial reef and find multiple organizations that appear similar at first glance. The meaningful differences usually come down to structure type, location options, family participation, and cost range.
Eternal Reefs
Eternal Reefs is one of the best-known names in the space, and their materials describe an Eternal Reef as a designed, environmentally safe concrete structure placed on the ocean floor as a permanent memorial. Their process centers on a casting event, where families may participate in mixing remains into concrete to form a “pearl” for a reef ball structure, and then participate in a viewing and dedication cycle. You can review their overview on What To Expect and the casting description in their FAQ.
For budgeting, Eternal Reefs publishes pricing examples in more than one place, and you should treat them as guides rather than guarantees because programs and locations differ. Their Fast Facts PDF lists a price range for certain memorial reef options, while their Donation Levels page shows tiered offerings, what is included, and notes that the family boat is an added cost.
Neptune Memorial Reef
The Neptune Memorial Reef is often described as an underwater memorial garden or underwater columbarium concept, with artistic structures that incorporate cremated remains. Service Corporation International (SCI) describes the memorialization method as blending cremated remains with a natural concrete substance that is then molded and secured within structures, complete with an engraved plaque, and notes that the reef meets strict guidelines and permitting across multiple agencies.
Cost ranges for Neptune Memorial Reef placements vary widely based on the type of placement and package. Dignity Memorial notes that packages for placement of ashes range from around $1,500 to $16,000, underscoring that pricing can move from modest to high depending on what you choose. If you want to see that reference directly, it appears in Dignity Memorial’s Funeral Cost Breakdown overview.
Memorial Reefs International and other regional programs
Some providers operate across multiple coastal areas and offer both attended and unattended options, often with GPS coordinates and a plaque as part of the memorial. Memorial Reefs International, for example, describes memorial reefs that contain cremated remains, include a bronze plaque, and provide GPS coordinates for future visits, with multiple locations listed on their site: Memorial Reefs International.
Because the structure, permitting approach, and available locations vary significantly across providers, a responsible comparison is less about “which company is best” and more about which model matches your priorities: habitat-first reef modules, an art-and-architecture underwater memorial garden, a private gathering experience, or a simple unattended placement.
Emerging options outside the U.S.
If you are seeing international coverage of reef memorials, you are not imagining a growing category. For example, a 2025 report from The Guardian describes a UK startup exploring reef memorial structures and the ecological motivations behind them. These programs may not be available where you live, but they are part of the broader trend: families seeking nature-based memorials that feel alive rather than static.
Budgeting Guidance: What You Are Paying For
When families ask about memorial reef cost, they are often trying to understand two things at once: the actual price and the value behind it. A reef memorial is not just an “item” the way an urn is. It is a combined service—creation, logistics, marine placement, and documentation.
In practical terms, your total budget often includes three layers. First is the cremation itself—if you are still orienting to this, Funeral.com’s guide on how much does cremation cost explains common ranges in everyday language. Second is the reef memorial provider’s cost (which can be several thousand dollars or more depending on the program and placement type). Third is the personal layer: travel, family participation fees, plaques or inscriptions, and any keepsakes you choose to keep on land.
Many families find it helpful to think of reef memorials as a “primary disposition choice” rather than a secondary add-on. If the reef memorial is the main final resting place, you may still want one physical home memorial for comfort and for funeral planning continuity. This could be a simple, dignified urn from the main cremation urns for ashes collection, even if most of the remains will ultimately be incorporated into the reef structure. If sharing is part of your family dynamic, you may also plan a few keepsake urns or small cremation urns so no one feels shut out of remembrance.
If pets are part of your memorial planning, remember that many people are carrying layered grief. Funeral.com supports pet families with dedicated collections like pet urns for ashes, including pet figurine cremation urns and pet keepsake cremation urns for families who want a small portion kept close.
Questions to Ask Before You Purchase
Because the reef memorial category blends emotion, engineering, and regulation, the most important protection you have is clarity. A reputable provider will not rush you through these questions. They will welcome them.
- Permits and oversight: Which agencies regulate your reef site, and what permits apply to the placement?
- Location specifics: Where is the reef site, how far offshore is it, and what are typical depth and access expectations for divers or boat visits?
- What is included: Does the price include casting, placement, a plaque, GPS coordinates, and documentation for the family?
- Attendance options: Can families attend casting and placement, and what are the additional costs for boat participation or private events?
- Timeline: How long from receiving the remains to the scheduled placement, and what happens if weather forces rescheduling?
- Handling remains: How are the remains transported, stored, and tracked, and what chain-of-custody practices are used?
- Environmental materials: What is the structure made of, and what evidence or standards support that it is marine-safe?
- Flexibility for keepsakes: If the family wants to reserve a small portion for cremation jewelry or keepsake urns, what guidance do you provide?
These questions also help families avoid a common regret: deciding too quickly because grief makes everything feel urgent. In reality, you can often take time, keep the remains secure, and move forward when the plan feels stable.
How Urns, Keepsakes, and Jewelry Fit Into a Reef Memorial Plan
Even if the end goal is an underwater memorial reef, most families still benefit from a grounded, home-based plan in the meantime. This is where keeping ashes at home is not “giving up on a final plan,” but creating space for good decisions.
If you are holding ashes at home while you compare providers or wait for a scheduled placement, Funeral.com’s guide Keeping Ashes at Home can help you think through safety, household comfort, and the long-term question of who will be responsible for the memorial if you move or if family roles shift.
From there, your memorial tools tend to fall into three categories. The first is the primary container—often a full-size urn from the main cremation urns for ashes collection, chosen for stability and dignity. The second is “sharing” containers—small cremation urns for meaningful portions and keepsake urns for very small, symbolic amounts. The third is wearable remembrance—cremation jewelry, including cremation necklaces, for the people who feel comforted by closeness in day-to-day life.
If you want a gentle, scenario-based approach to matching memorial items to your actual plan, you may appreciate Funeral.com’s Journal article How to Choose a Cremation Urn That Actually Fits Your Plans. And if your broader funeral planning is still coming together, the guide How to Plan a Funeral in 7 Steps can help you anchor decisions in a calmer sequence.
A Final Word: A Reef Memorial Is Both a Place and a Promise
Choosing a memorial reef is not about finding the most impressive option. It is about choosing a form of remembrance that feels like them—someone who loved the ocean, someone who cared about the world that continues after we are gone, someone whose memory you want to connect to life rather than loss alone.
If you are still deciding what to do with ashes, give yourself permission to hold two truths at once: you can be drawn to the idea of a reef, and you can also need something tangible on land right now. That is why families so often pair reef memorial plans with cremation urns for ashes, keepsake urns, and cremation jewelry—not because they are undecided, but because love rarely fits into a single container.
When you are ready for the broader grounding basics—what ashes are, how families handle them, and the common legal and emotional questions—this overview can help: Human Ashes 101: Legal, Emotional, and Practical Things Families Should Know. From there, your next step does not have to be fast. It only has to be yours.
