Full Body Burial at Sea

We coordinate every aspect of full-body ocean interment in accordance with guidelines established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. We manage preparation, documentation, vessel logistics, and ceremonial arrangements—ensuring the service is conducted with care, legality, and respect.

Burials take place in deep Pacific waters well beyond minimum federal requirements, providing families with a serene and permanent resting place beneath the open horizon.

⚓ What’s Included in a Full Body Burial at Sea

Full body burial at sea requires both licensed funeral home oversight and experienced maritime coordination. As a sister company to a licensed California funeral home, we provide a level of professionalism, compliance, and logistical expertise that few providers can offer.

Families throughout Southern California trust our team for seamless coordination, clear guidance, and a dignified experience—both on land and at sea.

With experienced professionals guiding every step, a full body burial at sea becomes a carefully coordinated and seamless process. From initial arrangements through the final moments offshore, each detail is handled with precision, care, and respect—allowing families to focus fully on the experience itself.

Below is a clear overview of what is included and how each part of the process is professionally managed.

What Is a Full Body Burial at Sea?

Ocean burials have been practiced for centuries by mariners, naval forces, and coastal communities. Today, families choose this option for a variety of reasons — personal connection to the sea, simplicity, environmental considerations, or a desire for a meaningful alternative to land-based burial.

Federal Requirements for Full Body Burial at Sea

• • A minimum of 3 nautical miles from shore
  • In waters at least 600 feet deep
  • Using materials that are biodegradable or designed to break down naturally in the marine environment
  • With proper documentation and reporting submitted following the interment

Shroud or Casket: Preparation Options for Ocean Interment

Full body burial at sea may be conducted using either a specially prepared burial shroud or a modified metal casket. The appropriate option depends on family preference, ceremonial wishes, and logistical considerations.

Both methods must meet federal environmental requirements and ensure that the body descends promptly and remains undisturbed in deep ocean waters.

When a casket is selected, it must be properly modified to meet ocean interment standards. A metal casket is required and must be:

• • Drilled to allow rapid water entry and air release
  • Secured with stainless steel bands or marine-safe restraints
  • Weighted appropriately to ensure immediate descent
  • Cleared of non-biodegradable interior materials

These preparations ensure the burial is conducted respectfully and in accordance with federal regulations.

Will the Body Resurface?

This is one of the most common questions families ask when considering a full body burial at sea.

When properly prepared and conducted in accordance with federal guidelines, resurfacing does not occur.

Several factors ensure long-term stability:

1. Depth of Interment

Federal regulations require a minimum depth of 600 feet. In practice, burials are typically conducted in significantly deeper waters. At depths exceeding 3,000 feet, water pressure increases substantially, reducing gas expansion during natural decomposition and preventing buoyancy.

2. Water Temperature

Deep ocean waters are consistently cold. Lower temperatures slow decomposition processes and further reduce gas formation.

3. Proper Weighting and Preparation

Whether using a shroud or modified metal casket, marine-safe weighting is added to ensure immediate descent and permanent placement on the ocean floor. Caskets are drilled to allow rapid water entry and air release, eliminating trapped air pockets.

When these procedures are followed correctly, the interment remains undisturbed in deep ocean waters.

Location of Ocean Interment

Interments take place in deep offshore Pacific waters beyond state jurisdiction. We routinely conduct burials well beyond minimum distance and depth requirements, providing long-term stability and a peaceful resting place beneath the open horizon.

Coordinates of the interment are recorded and may be provided to the family for remembrance.

Ocean conditions, weather, and safety are carefully evaluated prior to departure to ensure the ceremony is conducted respectfully and securely.

A full body burial at sea ceremony is conducted with simplicity, dignity, and respect. Families may choose a quiet, private interment or include readings, music, or personal tributes.

Upon reaching the designated offshore location, the vessel will come to rest. The captain or officiant may offer brief remarks, and family members are invited to speak if they wish.

The body—properly prepared for ocean interment—is respectfully committed to the sea. The moment of release is conducted in a controlled and secure manner, ensuring safety for all in attendance.

Following the interment, families often take time for reflection. Flowers or biodegradable elements may be placed in the water as a final gesture. Coordinates of the burial may be recorded and provided upon request.

Each ceremony is tailored to the family’s wishes while upholding the standards required for ocean interment.

Coordinating With Funeral Homes Nationwide

Full body burial at sea often involves coordination between multiple licensed professionals. In many cases, the family’s local funeral home prepares the deceased, while the ocean interment is conducted offshore. If assistance with preparation, transportation, or documentation is needed, our affiliated licensed funeral home can coordinate these arrangements directly.

We routinely work with funeral homes across the United States to coordinate transportation, documentation, and marine-compliant preparation. Families sometimes travel from neighboring states as well, including those arranging burial at sea from Arizona when they wish to hold the ceremony on the Pacific Ocean. When necessary, we can also assist families in arranging local funeral services prior to sea burial.

Who May Attend the Burial at Sea?

For larger gatherings, multiple vessels may be arranged. For families who prefer a private interment, the burial may also be conducted without attendees, with coordinates and documentation provided afterward.

Safety remains the highest priority. All ceremonies are conducted under the supervision of experienced captains and licensed professionals to ensure compliance with maritime regulations.

Military Burial at Sea

Military burial at sea is a long-standing naval tradition and may be available for eligible veterans through the United States Navy.

The Navy conducts burials during active deployment and according to its operational schedule. In most cases:

• • The burial is performed at sea during a deployment
  • Family members are not permitted to attend
  • The deceased must be properly embalmed
  • An appropriate casket must be prepared to Navy specifications
  • Scheduling may take several months

Because Navy burials are conducted according to deployment schedules, there may be a waiting period before a ship is assigned for the interment. During this time, we are able to provide secure, professional care of the deceased until the scheduled military burial at sea is completed.

Following the interment, the family receives official documentation and the coordinates of the burial.

For families who prefer to attend the ceremony or hold a more personalized service, a privately coordinated full body burial at sea may provide greater flexibility while still honoring military tradition.

We are honored to coordinate veteran ocean interments with dignity, professionalism, and respect.

⚓ Private Burial at Sea vs. Navy Burial at Sea

Families considering a military burial at sea often want to understand how the U.S. Navy program compares to a privately coordinated service.

While both options are conducted with dignity and respect, there are important differences in timing, participation, and flexibility.

Choosing the Right Option

Both options honor a life with dignity.

Families who prefer a structured military process may choose the Navy program. Those who wish to be present and participate in the ceremony often choose a privately coordinated burial at sea.

We are available to explain both options and assist with whichever path is most appropriate.

Preparation Standards for Military Burial at Sea

Planning & Next Steps

Arranging a full body burial at sea involves thoughtful coordination and careful timing. From preparation through offshore departure, every detail is managed with professionalism and discretion.

Families sometimes ask whether government programs provide financial assistance after a death. Our guide explaining Social Security funeral benefits and funeral costs outlines what assistance may be available.

The process typically includes:

• • Coordination with a licensed funeral professional
  • Preparation of the deceased
  • Obtaining the required California Disposition of Human Remains Permit prior to departure
  • Vessel scheduling and offshore planning
  • Weather and safety review
  • Required federal notification following the interment

A county-issued Disposition of Human Remains Permit is required before any full body burial at sea can proceed. We explain the permit process and required documentation in detail on our burial-at-sea permit page.

If a local funeral home is involved, we coordinate directly to ensure seamless timing. For families traveling from outside the area, transportation and documentation are managed in advance so arrangements proceed smoothly.

Advance planning allows the ceremony to be scheduled without urgency and ensures the service is carried out exactly as intended. Some individuals also choose to pre-plan their burial at sea arrangements in advance, documenting their wishes and relieving family members from having to make difficult decisions later. Learn more about pre-need funeral planning for burial at sea.

We are available to answer questions, review options, and guide families step by step.

Frequently Asked Questions About Full Body Burial at Sea

Speak With a Licensed Funeral Professional

Full body burial at sea is a significant decision that requires careful planning, regulatory precision, and experienced coordination. We understand the responsibility entrusted to us and approach every ocean interment with professionalism, discretion, and respect.

If you have questions about preparation requirements, attendance options, veteran services, or federal guidelines, we are available to provide clear and straightforward guidance.

Our staff will walk you through each step of the process, ensuring that the arrangements are handled properly and with dignity.

📞 619-987-0663
✉️ info@sandiegoburialatsea.com