San Diego Burial at Sea – Our Story

San Diego Burial at Sea began in a very simple, personal way.

Around the year 2000, a colleague approached us after the loss of a family member and asked if we could help arrange a burial at sea for his loved one. At the time, we had a small sailboat and no formal business—just the desire to help. Six of us went out that day. The weather was calm, the sun was shining, and as flowers and cremated remains were gently placed into the water, they formed a beautiful line as the current carried them away.

Flowers floating in the ocean after a sea scattering.

Looking back toward the shoreline, the San Diego skyline and the Hotel del Coronado were visible in the distance. It was peaceful, meaningful, and unmistakably right. That day stayed with us.

Growing With the Families We Serve

For several years after that first scattering, we assisted a small number of families each year. In 2007, we made the decision to dedicate ourselves fully to this work. We acquired a larger, luxury power yacht to provide a more comfortable and dignified environment for families, including indoor seating and panoramic ocean views.

As demand grew, so did our capabilities. By 2009, we began accommodating larger family gatherings using U.S. Coast Guard–inspected vessels designed to safely host extended families. Today, we can accommodate groups of more than 120 guests across a fleet of carefully selected yachts.

Our services now extend beyond San Diego to coastal locations throughout Southern California, including Newport Beach, Dana Point, and Los Angeles—allowing more families to experience a meaningful farewell at sea.

Expanding Into Funeral Services

In 2013, we expanded our services by opening Funerals Your Way, our independently licensed funeral home. This allows families to work with a single, trusted team for cremation, funeral planning, and burial-at-sea arrangements—without unnecessary handoffs or confusion.

Families consistently tell us how much they value the simplicity and continuity this provides.

We also work closely with hospice providers and families who wish to explore pre-planning funeral arrangements, offering guidance without pressure and at a pace that feels right.

Where We Are Today

Today, both San Diego Burial at Sea and Funerals Your Way are recognized leaders in their fields. Each has earned more than 220 five-star Google reviews, reflecting the care, professionalism, and compassion our families experience.

Much of that trust is built by our experienced yacht crews, who understand that this work is not just about logistics, but about honoring a life and supporting the families left behind.

Our mission has never changed:
to provide peaceful, dignified memorials and to make an already difficult day a little easier for the families we serve.