You’ve heard of the viking funeral, where the remains of the deceased are placed in a boat that is then set aflame and sent down the fjord to the sea. Now there is the fish reef funeral. A company called the Neptune Society has just announced a man-made reef final resting place a little more than three miles off the Florida coast. With some scuba gear you can dive to the 45-foot deep reef and pay your respects to a lost loved one. But presumably you need to bring along plastic flowers, as real blossoms might not last long underwater.
From the press release: The Neptune Society, the largest cremation-only services company in the U.S., announces a revolutionary new final resting place — The Neptune Memorial Reef — that is as much for the living and the ecology as it a memorial for the deceased. Located 3.25 miles off the Miami Coast in 45 feet of crystal clear water, the Neptune Memorial Reef is a design and engineering wonder that will attract divers, ecologists, tourists…and those looking for a final resting place of unmatched beauty.
Set to launch November, 2007, The Neptune Memorial Reef is a re-creation of the legendary Lost City that will be the largest and most enchanting man-made reef of its type in the world. Covering over 16 acres of ocean floor, the Neptune Memorial Reef will offer room for more than 125,000 remains, and becomes a “living city” that will act as a catalyst for marine life to converge and thrive. It was created by visionary Gary Levine and famed designer/sculptor Kim Brandell.
Jerry Norman, President and CEO of the Neptune Society, said, “The Neptune Memorial Reef is a first for the industry and a major step toward creating a new way for people to honor and remember their loved ones in a beautiful setting that reaffirms life and promotes marine habitat, coral growth and supports tourism. With the help of time and nature, this underwater memorial city will become a living reef of colorful marine life and coral growth that holds secure the remembrances of the dearly departed for all time.“