Burial at sea

Originally taken from Shakespeare's The Tempest, ‘sea change' describes a human's metamorphosis into the sea. But it has come to describe a profound transformation. A sea burial sure is the ultimate sea change!

Burial at sea was commonplace in centuries gone by when people could only travel long distances by sea. When someone died on board the fear of disease was rife as there were no refrigeration or storage facilities on board. This meant the ship's captain was forced to dispose of the body quickly while still at sea and this meant wrapping the body in a shroud and throwing it overboard.

These days the reasons for burial at sea are less dramatic or urgent, with the person concerned often prebooking their own burial at sea. Guy Richards runs Sea Burials Australia, the only company with a sea burial license in Australia. The company operates from Merimbula, on the South Coast of NSW.

According to Guy, sea burials are becoming increasingly popular and appeal to people for very different reasons. Guy recalls one of his clients saying he “...wanted to be cradled in the arms of the sea for eternity.” Other reasons for choosing a sea burial are somewhat less romantic. People may have links with the sea through fishing, diving, swimming or yachting. Others may yearn for a secluded and unusual resting place, while a few are thrill seekers who want the ultimate final adventure. Guy says a farmer client opted for a sea burial because the last thing he wanted was to be interred in the land he had worked.

Sea burials cost about the same as land interment and all burials are conducted at one of two sites off the coast near Merimbula. Family and friends may form an onboard group to witness the commitment to the sea.

Scattering ashes at sea

If you prefer the cremated ashes to be scattered at sea, rather than a sea burial, you may decide to scatter the ashes across the ocean from a boat or plane, from a clifftop or over a waterway. There are two options available: an un-witnessed scattering conducted by the Master of the Vessel, or where the scattering is conducted and witnessed by family and/or friends.

Martin Tobin, Managing Director of Tobin Brothers Funerals in Melbourne, says that families typically want a special place to scatter cremated ashes and that requests for sea scatterings are not common. According to Martin, funeral directors take a passive role in the scattering of ashes, with most families choosing to do the scattering themselves.

“Scattering of ashes is not offensive or damaging to the environment. After all, it is dust and disbursed fairly harmlessly,” he said.

There are not any government or health regulations covering the scattering of cremated remains, however, the scattering must not cause public nuisance. There may be a fee involved.

Before you opt to scatter the cremated ashes at sea, you should get approval from the appropriate governing body, such as the local council, for the site you choose. Some authorities have their own rules so it is best to consult them in advance. Generally, there are few restrictions on where you can scatter cremated ashes, however, you should seek guidance from a funeral director and/or allow them to seek out the necessary approvals on your behalf.

Permanent memorial

Unlike land burials, a burial at sea or the scattering of cremated ashes at sea cannot be reversed nor can the body be relocated or exhumed for an autopsy. It also means a memorial cannot be erected at the burial location. Because of this, you may wish to consider a permanent memorial at another site so that in the future others have somewhere to visit to gain a sense of the person who has passed away.