Eternal Reefs, Inc. was established in the United States in 1998 when Carleton “Petey” Palmer, the father-in-law of the founder of Eternal Reefs, Don Brawley, requested his cremated remains be placed in concrete to form a reef and placed in the ocean. On May 1, 1998, a memorial reef with Carlton Palmer’s remains was cast, and Eternal Reefs, Inc. was born in the USA.
Eternal Reefs in the United States have produced and placed over 2,000 cremated remains in 25 locations off the coasts of New Jersey Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Florida and Texas. This contributes to our dwindling ocean reef systems, as well as memorising loved ones.
This concept was brought into Canada in 2016 by Kevin Owens, a funeral directer and he has the rights of Living Reef Memorial, Canada. It took many months to get the licencing from the U.S., and Owens had to deal with local municipalities, Transport Canada and the Department of Oceans and Fisheries.
The concept behind Living Reef is simple: cremated remains are inserted into a mold, turned into an artificial reef and then released into the ocean. The mould consists of seashells, weak alkaline powder, traces of sand and the human remains. The mould is cured after the mixture has been made, which takes about 30 days. The mould will weigh upward from 750 pounds and the ocean floor stability is fine.
The mould will then be installed and placed in different locations off the coast of British Columbia such as the areas of Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, Bowen Island and Semiahmoo Bay. The moulds are mounted about 200 to 300 yards off shore at depths between 45 and 75 feet in the ocean.
Cremated remains dumped in the ocean or scattered on the beach today are massive, and water people / divers frequently ask family members to do so. These scattered contaminants are not necessarily harmful to the environment due to the low quantity of ashes.
The living reef has various choices, whether a person wishes to be put by himself, with a loved one, or his relatives.
Partial proceeds from the sale of the Memorial Living Reef contribute to the Sea Turtle Recovery Fund.
The cost of making an Extended Reef mould in Canada ranges from $600.00 to $4,000.00
To those who wish our aquatic world to survive, this is certainly the way to keep it going, fitting to your death.