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goes on during cremation, burial at sea, embalming and other funeral related
processes, as well as environmental impacts.
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We can. However, the cost is very
prohibitive due to very precise legal requirements for the preparation of the body and the laws governing the actual burial. More information can be obtained by calling our office at 858-277-2799.
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Yes! You may ship the ashes by U.S. Postal Service. Please use "return receipt" for your shipment, as we cannot be held responsible for ashes during transit. Label your box "cremated remains." Read other USPS rules here
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Ask your mortuary or crematory to give you a box the right size for shipping. As long as the box has sufficient padding, you may use any size.
Usually you will use the same box that you were given by the mortuary.
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| Barring unforeseen occurrences, such as inclement weather, we will scatter the ashes within
2 weeks of receipt. New laws require scattering take place within 60 days of receipt. At that time, we will send you a memorial certificate listing the date, exact
latitude and longitude, and vessel.
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Ashes on the Sea wants to ease your mind regarding the whereabouts of your
loved one. Global Positioning (GPS) is used to
verify the exact latitude and longitude where the ashes are scattered. You are issued a memorial certificate with
the longitude and latitude, as well as the date and vessel name. You can be assured that everything will be done in a manner that will give you true peace of mind, knowing that your wishes and those of your loved one are carried out in a timely and caring manner.
You can request a phone call the day
before or the day of the scattering of ashes - no charge. For an additional fee, you can
reserve a special date and we will coordinate with you the exact date and
time. This requires a private charter/no passengers.
We've been doing this since 1997 and
follow California's strict guidelines for Cremated
Remains Disposers (CRDs).
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The answer is no. We do not have a religious or other ceremony for our families. Why? Our wish is for our families - you - to have a memorial service for your loved one that best suits your family traditions and values. We can offer some suggestions, if you wish,
and we do help facilitate the proceedings, but this is your time. Any reasonable accommodation that can be made for your family will be made!
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It depends. If our schedule is open and
all paperwork is in order, we have scheduled services for the next day. If
we need to obtain a permit, it will take time for you to mail us the death
certificate, and permits are obtained Mon-Fri only. Of course, the more
notice we have, the better. Please call us as soon as you are thinking about
a date or a range of dates so that we can check our calendar and pencil you
in!
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Due to the design requirements of most
boats, wheelchair accessibility is normally difficult and
sometimes impossible. We will however make every effort to
accommodate our guests with wheelchairs. In some cases, this
requires manually lifting the person into the boat, if
possible.
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| The
simple answer is yes. However, the State of California has strict laws governing the final disposition of any person, whether it be a traditional funeral, or the cremation and scattering of the ashes.
See a brief overview here. Because so many families would like to just do it themselves, we have made provision for a Do-It-Yourself
Booklet that outlines the laws and provides the paperwork and instructions to you.
We also can obtain the required burial permit for you if you do not already have it.
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We have heard many tales from families who
were told things such as:
- [Off the coast of California] 'His ashes
will travel the Humboldt Current, and next year at this same
time you can revisit the same spot where they will have come
back.'
- [Gulf Stream] 'This is where his ashes
will travel.' A real currents map is provided to the family
outlining where the person's ashes will go.
While it is may be a romantic notion to think
that your loved ones ashes will be caught up in an ocean current
and travel to far away exotic places, the reality of the
situation is that most of the ashes go straight to the bottom of
the ocean. The remainder, the beautiful ash cloud you see
drifting below the surface of the ocean may travel on the
current for a relatively short distance.
Because the cremains are heavier than water,
it may take a few hours, but the ash cloud will eventually
filter to the ocean bottom. If the current is traveling at
a speed of 2 miles an hour, the ashes may very well scatter over
a distance of 2 to 4 miles of sea bottom. If the current is
faster, the distance may be a little more.
For those wishing the ashes to stay together,
there are biodegradable
urns that can be used for that purpose.
Or, consider building the ashes into a
Living Memorial Reef.
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Do you have a question not addressed here? Please send us an email.
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