Full body burial at sea with shrouded remains and floral arrangement on the ocean

Full Body Burial at Sea in California

A full body burial at sea in California offers a dignified and meaningful alternative to traditional burial, allowing a loved one to be laid to rest in the open ocean. Unlike ash scattering, this option involves committing the body directly to deep offshore waters in full compliance with federal regulations. For families with a connection to the sea, it provides a peaceful, natural setting for remembrance while ensuring every detail is handled with professionalism and care.

For families considering cremation instead, we also offer ash scattering at sea services throughout Southern California.

We coordinate full body burial at sea services throughout Southern California, managing everything from preparation and permits to vessel logistics and the ceremony itself. With licensed funeral professionals guiding each step, families are able to focus on the experience while knowing all legal and regulatory requirements are properly handled.

⚖️ Licensed California Funeral Home

Every full body burial at sea is coordinated through a licensed California funeral home, ensuring full compliance with all state and federal requirements from start to finish.

⚓ Experienced Burial at Sea Specialists

We specialize in full body burial at sea, with years of experience coordinating ocean interments throughout Southern California with precision, care, and respect.

🛥️ Private Ocean Ceremonies
On Vessels

All services are conducted on private vessels — never shared — allowing families to gather, reflect, and honor their loved one in a peaceful ocean setting.

📋 Complete Coordination – Start to Finsih

From preparation and permits to vessel logistics and federal reporting, every detail is professionally managed so families can focus on the moment.

What’s Included in a Full Body Burial at Sea

Every full body burial at sea requires careful coordination, licensed oversight, and precise preparation. We manage each step professionally so families can focus on the experience.

🛥️ Private Vessel

Professional Crew

Private charter (never shared with other families)
U.S. Coast Guard–licensed captain and crew
Vessel options based on group size and conditions

⚖️ Permits

Compliance & Documentation

California Disposition Permit coordination
Full EPA burial-at-sea compliance
Federal reporting handled on your behalf

⚰️ Preparation

Transportation

Coordination with hospital, hospice, or coroner
Transportation and care of the deceased
Proper ocean preparation (shroud or casket)

🌊 Offshore Burial

Ceremony

Travel to approved deep-water burial location
Time for readings, reflection, or prayer
Respectful and controlled committal to the sea

📍 Memorial Documentation

Compliance & Documentation

Exact GPS coordinates of burial location
Official burial at sea certificate
Keepsake documentation for family records

🎖️ Veteran Services

(If Applicable)

Coordination with military honors
Assistance with required documentation
Experience supporting all branches of service

More than a vessel provider — licensed professionals coordinating every detail.

How Full Body Burial at Sea Works

Arranging a full body burial at sea involves several coordinated steps. Our team guides you through each stage, ensuring everything is handled properly, legally, and with care.

1. Initial Consultation & Planning
You speak with a licensed funeral professional who explains the process, answers questions, and helps determine the best approach based on your wishes.

2. Transfer & Care of the Deceased
We coordinate transportation from the place of death and ensure proper care while arrangements are being finalized.

3. Preparation for Ocean Burial
The deceased is prepared for burial at sea using a compliant method, either a specialized shroud or a properly modified metal casket. Learn more about shroud vs casket burial at sea and which option most families choose.

4. Permits & Documentation
All required permits, authorizations, and regulatory filings are handled in accordance with California and federal requirements.

5. Vessel Scheduling & Coordination
We schedule the vessel, review ocean conditions, and coordinate all logistics to ensure a safe and properly timed service.

6. Burial at Sea Ceremony
At the designated offshore location, the ceremony is conducted with dignity and care, followed by documentation and confirmation of the burial.

Each step is carefully coordinated so families never have to navigate the process alone

Federal Requirements for Burial at Sea

Full body burial at sea in the United States is regulated under federal law to ensure environmental protection, safety, and proper placement. These requirements are established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and must be followed for all ocean interments.

🌊 Minimum Distance from Shore
Burials must take place at least three nautical miles offshore, beyond coastal and harbor boundaries. This ensures the interment occurs in approved federal waters.

📏 Depth Requirements
Ocean burial must occur in waters of at least 600 feet deep. In practice, services are typically conducted in significantly deeper waters to ensure long-term stability.

⚖️ Proper Preparation
The body must be prepared in a way that ensures a controlled descent and permanent placement on the ocean floor. This includes appropriate weighting and the use of a burial shroud or properly modified metal casket. See our detailed guide comparing shroud and casket burial at sea.

🧾 EPA Notification & Reporting
Following the burial, the EPA must be notified within 30 days. This includes documentation of the location and details of the interment. Our team handles this process on your behalf.

🌿 Environmental Compliance
All materials used must be suitable for the marine environment. Non-biodegradable materials are removed, and preparation is completed in accordance with environmental guidelines.

These requirements are strictly followed to ensure every burial at sea is conducted legally, responsibly, and with respect for both the environment and the family.

Although federal law sets minimum standards, we routinely exceed these requirements — conducting burials in deeper offshore waters to provide greater stability, separation from coastal activity, and long-term peace of mind for families.

A California Disposition of Human Remains Permit is required prior to any full body burial at sea. Learn more about the California Disposition of Human Remains Permit and how the process is handled.

Shroud vs Casket — Preparation for Burial at Sea

Full body burial at sea may be conducted using either a specialized shroud or a properly prepared metal casket. In most private ocean burials, a shroud is the preferred and most appropriate method.

🧵 Shroud Burial at Sea

Most Common and Preferred

A burial shroud is the most widely used method for full body burial at sea. The body is carefully wrapped, secured, and weighted to ensure a controlled descent and stable placement on the ocean floor.

Designed specifically for ocean condition
Allows for a respectful, controlled committal
Uses environmentally appropriate materials
Reflects traditional maritime burial practices

Most private burial at sea services are performed using a shroud due to its reliability, lighter weight and suitability for ocean conditions.

⚰️ Casket Burial at Sea

Less Common — Typically Military Use

Casket burial at sea is less common in private services and is most often associated with military or U.S. Navy burials. When used, a metal casket must be specially modified for burial at sea use in accordance with EPA standards.

Drilled to allow water entry and air release
Secured with marine-grade restraints
Weighted to ensure immediate descent
Cleared of non-biodegradable materials

In most civilian burial at sea services, a casket is not used due to handling complexity and ocean conditions.

For families exploring cremation-based options, ash scattering at sea provides a different type of ocean memorial experience.

Will the Body Resurface After Burial at Sea?

This is one of the most common questions families have when considering a full body burial at sea. When the burial is properly prepared and conducted in accordance with federal guidelines, resurfacing does not occur.

Several factors ensure that the body remains undisturbed on the ocean floor, including depth, water conditions, and proper preparation. These elements work together to prevent buoyancy and ensure a stable, permanent placement.

Depth & Ocean Pressure

Burials take place in deep offshore waters, often well beyond minimum federal requirements. At these depths, increased pressure reduces gas expansion and prevents buoyancy.

Cold Ocean Temperatures

Deep ocean waters remain consistently cold. Lower temperatures slow natural decomposition and limit gas formation, further reducing any risk of resurfacing.

Proper Preparation & Weighting

The body is carefully prepared and weighted to ensure immediate descent and stable placement on the ocean floor, whether using a shroud or approved burial method.

When these factors are combined, the burial remains undisturbed in deep ocean waters.

Ocean depth illustration showing increased pressure at 600 feet for burial at sea

A Meaningful Burial at Sea Experience

A burial at sea offers families a deeply personal and meaningful way to say goodbye. Away from the noise and formality of traditional settings, the open ocean provides a calm, natural environment where families can gather, reflect, and honor a loved one in a peaceful and unhurried way.

The experience is often described as both grounding and healing. The rhythm of the water, the openness of the horizon, and the quiet stillness of the ocean create a setting that allows families to be fully present in the moment. There is no rush — only space for remembrance, connection, and reflection.

Family gathered aboard a private yacht during a full body burial at sea ceremony, watching a flower-covered burial shroud peacefully floating in deep offshore Pacific Ocean waters under a bright Southern California sky.

“The ocean provides a quiet and timeless place for remembrance, reflection, and farewell.”

For many families, the ocean carries a special significance. It represents continuity, nature, and a return to something greater. A burial at sea is not only a farewell, but a transition that feels natural, respectful, and aligned with the environment.

This approach is also environmentally mindful. Conducted in accordance with federal guidelines, burial at sea minimizes impact while allowing a loved one to rest in a natural setting, free from the constraints of land-based burial.

Each service is private and thoughtfully guided, while still allowing families the freedom to create a ceremony that reflects their wishes — whether through silence, shared words, or simple gestures like placing flowers on the water.

Each service is private, unhurried, and guided with care — allowing families the space to create a meaningful and lasting farewell.

Who This Service Is Best For

A full body burial at sea is not the right choice for every family — but for those with a connection to the ocean or a desire for a more natural and meaningful farewell, it can be a deeply fitting option.

🌊 Families with a Connection to the Ocean

For those who spent their lives near the water — whether through work, service, or personal connection — burial at sea offers a meaningful and natural final resting place.

🌿 A Simple, Natural, and Environmentally Mindful Option

For families seeking a more natural approach, burial at sea offers a peaceful alternative to traditional cemeteries. It allows a loved one to return to the ocean in a simple, environmentally conscious way.

👨‍👩‍👧 Families Wanting a Private, Shared Experience

Unlike many traditional services, burial at sea allows families to be together in a quiet, private setting, creating a more personal and memorable farewell.

🎖️ Veterans, Boaters and Maritime Traditions

Burial at sea has long-standing ties to military and maritime traditions, making it a meaningful option for veterans and those who served or worked on the water.

Burial at Sea Locations Across Southern California

We coordinate full body burial at sea services from multiple harbors throughout Southern California. Each location offers access to deep offshore waters, allowing for a safe, compliant, and meaningful ocean burial experience.

📍 San Diego Burial at Sea
Calm, protected waters near Point Loma with quick access to deep offshore burial locations. Ideal for private, smooth ocean ceremonies.

📍 Dana Point Burial at Sea
A scenic harbor with easy ocean access and a peaceful coastal setting, serving families across Orange County.

📍 Newport Beach Burial at Sea
A central location with convenient access and a refined harbor environment for private ocean burial services.

📍 Long Beach Burial at Sea
Centrally located for Los Angeles and surrounding areas, offering calm waters and efficient access to approved burial areas.

📍 San Pedro Burial at Sea
A major harbor serving the South Bay and greater Los Angeles area, with direct routes to deep offshore waters.

📍 Marina del Rey Burial at Sea
A convenient departure point for West Los Angeles, offering a quiet and accessible setting for ocean burial ceremonies.

📍 Huntington Beach Burial at Sea
A convenient Orange County departure location with smooth ocean access and a calm coastal setting for private burial at sea services.

📍 Redondo Beach Burial at Sea
A centrally located South Bay harbor offering easy ocean access and a peaceful setting for private burial at sea ceremonies.

Speak With a Licensed Funeral Director

Arranging a full body burial at sea involves important decisions, timing, and coordination. Our team is available to provide clear guidance, answer your questions, and help you understand the options — without pressure.

Whether you are planning immediately or simply exploring the possibility, we will walk you through each step and ensure everything is handled properly, respectfully, and in full compliance with all requirements.

We can also assist with cremation arrangements if needed prior to an ocean service.

📞 Call: (619-550-7807)
✉️ Request Information

Full Body Burial at Sea — Common Questions

Families often have important questions when considering a full body burial at sea, from legal requirements to preparation and the ceremony itself.

Is full body burial at sea legal?
Who is allowed to have a burial at sea?
What preparation is required?
Can family attend the ceremony?
What type of vessel is used for a full body burial at sea?
How far offshore does a burial at sea take place?
Is a burial at sea environmentally safe?
What happens if weather conditions are not ideal?
Why do families choose burial at sea instead of traditional burial?

View all answers in our full Burial at Sea FAQ section →

Our team is also available to answer any questions and guide you through the process at any time.