Marina del Rey Ash Scattering & Burial at Sea Services
We provide professional ash scattering and burial at sea services departing directly from Marina del Rey Harbor, with private boats and yachts available for both small and large gatherings. Every ceremony is conducted with care, coordination, and full compliance with California and federal regulations.
✅ Licensed Funeral Home Oversight
Why Families Choose Marina del Rey for Ocean Memorials
📍 Central Los Angeles Location
Convenient for families throughout Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and surrounding communities.
🌊 Calm Harbor Conditions
Protected breakwater creates smoother waters for a more comfortable ceremony.
🚤 Private Vessel Options
Choose from intimate boats or larger yachts for groups of all sizes.
🅿️ Easy Access & Amenities
Simple parking, walkable docks, and nearby gathering areas for families.
Marina del Rey offers a calm and elegant coastal setting for ash scattering at sea. As the largest man-made small-craft harbor in the United States, it provides protected waters, modern marina facilities, and access to a wide range of private vessels.
Families throughout Los Angeles choose Marina del Rey for its peaceful atmosphere, convenient location, and comfortable harbor conditions. With views of the Santa Monica Mountains and easy access along the coastline toward areas like King Harbor and the South Bay, it provides a meaningful and well-connected setting for a dignified ocean farewell.
📍 Conveniently Located for Families Across Los Angeles
Marina del Rey is centrally located along the Los Angeles coastline and easily accessible from surrounding communities:
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- Venice – 5 minutes
- Santa Monica – 10 minutes
- Playa del Rey – 5 minutes
- Culver City – 15 minutes
- West Los Angeles – 10–15 minutes
- Beverly Hills – 25 minutes
- Redondo Beach (King Harbor) – 30–35 minutes
- Torrance – 30–35 minutes
- Downtown Los Angeles – 30–40 minutes
📍Did You Know?
Marina del Rey was officially dedicated in 1965 and is now home to more than 4,600 recreational vessels, making it the largest man-made small-craft harbor in the United States. It borders Venice Beach and Playa del Rey and provides families with a peaceful gateway to the open Pacific for dignified sea memorials.
“What to Expect” Ceremony Flow Section
Some Marina del Rey families prefer a quiet and intimate gathering centered around reflection and the peaceful setting of the Pacific Ocean, while others include prayers, spoken tributes, music, military honors, or cultural and spiritual traditions. Whether simple and understated or more ceremonial in nature, each service can be thoughtfully arranged to create a meaningful and memorable farewell along the Southern California coast.
🕒 10 Min
Boarding & Welcome
🚤 15 Min
Travel to Scattering Site
The ride is calm and quiet — a time for reflection, shared memories, or simply taking in the open water.
🕯️ 20 Min
Ceremony, Readings, and Ash Scattering
When the vessel has reached the open waters, the ceremony can begin. Spoken tributes, poetry recitals, meaningful music, or silence are some of the elements that families may choose to offer in tribute. Often, ashes are scattered alongside the sprinkling of fresh petals or biodegradable wreaths. Our team is always available to ensure that these moments are handled with the necessary sensitivity and care.
Reflection and Return Cruise
🌿 Ceremony Elements & Scattering Options
Some families choose to personalize the ceremony with simple, environmentally respectful elements. These options are entirely optional and can be discussed at any time during planning. Of Course, all ash scatterings are conducted in full compliance with EPA and California requlations.
Marina del Rey Boats & Yachts for Ash Scattering at Sea
Choose from a range of private vessels in Marina del Rey, from intimate boats for small families to larger yachts for gatherings of up to 30+ guests. Each vessel is operated by experienced captains and provides a respectful, comfortable setting for a dignified ocean memorial.
🛥️50-foot Navigator
This is a very stylish Navigator. It has a real kitchen that is available for family use. There are various sitting areas with panoramic views. A wonderful boat for a smaller group.
Key Features:
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- For up to 12 guests (ideal for families or close friends)
- Engines are twin Volvos (370 hp) cruising around 16 knots
- Onboard restroom for added convenience
- Experienced local captain and crew
- Perfect for short, private memorials or peaceful time on the ocean
🛥️Classic 46-ft sailing yacht
Offering a traditional, authentic experience – a wonderful boat for a small adventurous group.
Key Features:
-
- For up to 6 guests (ideal for families or close friends)
- Sailing yacht
- Onboard restroom for added convenience
- Experienced local captain and crew
- Perfect for short, private memorials or peaceful time on the ocean
🛥️Large Yacht
A large yacht for medium-sized groups – maximum 39 people. Icebox and mini refrigerator
Key Features:
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- 3 dinette tables
- 18 guests inside
- Onboard restroom for added convenience
- Experienced local captain and crew
- Validated parking – $2 all day
A large yacht for medium-sized groups – maximum 12 people. Icebox and mini refrigerator
Key Features:
A large yacht for medium-sized groups – maximum 12 people. It has all the ammenities.
Key Features:
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- Max group size 12
Stories for the Soul – Ash Scattering at Sea
The account below is one of those stories. You’ll find more at our 🔗 “Ash Scattering Stories” page.
Despite the season having passed, three whales emerged near the boat. They stayed close for several minutes, calm and observant, as if offering their own farewell.
Their presence shifted something in the moment. When they submerged, the silence they left behind held a profound energy. The family felt honored — as though nature itself had acknowledged their loved one’s passing.
FAQ – Ash Scattering at Sea in Marina del Rey
Where do Marina del Rey ash scattering trips depart from?
Most trips board at Fisherman’s Village (Dock 55 area on Fiji Way) or the Burton Chace Park guest docks. Your confirmation includes the exact dock number and slip will all be given to you at the time of booking.
What landmarks will we see from Marina del Rey?
You should expect views of the Marina del Rey breakwater and jetties, Venice Pier, Santa Monica Pier, and the Santa Monica Mountains. On very clear days you may see Palos Verdes to the south or Malibu up-coast. Once in a while you will see Catalina isalnd.
What should we bring to the ceremony?
Most families bring flowers, photos, or personal mementos. We recommend light layers for clothing, sun protection, and motion sickness aids if you’re concerned about sea travel. We do have florists in ach city that we do scattering from. We would be happy to recommend them to you.
What marine life is common off Marina del Rey?
Frequent sightings include dolphins, sea lions, and pelicans. Seasonally, gray whales (Dec–Apr) and blue/humpback whales (late spring–early fall) can pass offshore. Sightings aren’t guaranteed, but they’re common and memorable.
Are there harbor or traffic restrictions we should know about?
Marina del Rey is a busy recreational harbor. We do not conduct ceremonies inside the harbor; captains avoid traffic pinch points and hold the service in quiet water outside the breakwater, well clear of lanes and other vessels.
How long does the outing take, and can you provide coordinates?
Plan on 1.5–2 hours total (meet, board, ride out, ceremony, return). After the service, we can share the GPS coordinates of the scattering site. You will receiving a memorial certificate by email in a few days.
What Families are Saying – Ash Scattering at Sea – Reviews
We take great care to do our best ensuring that each ash scattering is the best it can be – given the nature of the event. Our reviews speak for themselves – with over 230 5-star Google reviews.
“I flew across the country for this. It was worth it. This was beyond phenomenal. I had never experienced an “ash scattering or release.” My family had always buried the deceased. This was so much more meaningful and quite honestly more freeing than a burial.
The crew was beyond compassionate, accommodating, and loving for someone I met 20 minutes before I boarded the boat. They spoke enough to be personable and also left enough room for the experience and the moment.”
— Brittany ★★★★★
“We scattered the ashes of my parents and grandfather off Point Loma in San Diego. Prior to the scattering, we had naval military honors for my father. The day of the actual service, Joey, Angela and Cindy were present to make certain that everything went flawlessly with regard to the music, the tempo and the food/drinks. We received many compliments from both family and guests. We highly recommend San Diego Burial at Sea!”
— Chris ★★★★★
“The boat is beautiful and comfortable. The crew (Liz and Amie) were wonderful; pleasant and professional. We felt calm and had a sense of closure by spreading our father’s ashes where he loved to be.”
— Jim ★★★★★
What to Know Before You Leave for Marina del Rey
🌴 Burton Chace Park: Such beautiful parks like Burton Chace are rare as this park also has a picturesque view of the harbor making it a perfect place to have a calm and enjoyable picnic, walk, or sit on a shaded bench. This park is also famous for people to gather for a memorial and share a quiet time while enjoying the beautiful harbor view.
🌊 Mother’s Beach (Marina Beach): The small harbor facing Mother’s Beach has calm, shallow water which is very soft for gentle waves. Adding palm trees improves the appeal for families with kids as well as for people waiting to do a ceremony,. This beach is famous for being the safest beach in the region and is frequently used for paddleboarding or for calm reflection.
🐬 Marina Peninsula & Ocean Access: The breakwater leads directly into Santa Monica Bay, where sea lions, dolphins, and pelicans are commonly spotted. The walk around Marina Peninsula, where locals prefer to watch the sunset, is peaceful and beautiful.
🍽️ Waterfront Dining & Fisherman’s Village: From casual to elegant, the waterfront restaurants and Fisherman’s Village offer a wide variety of seafood dishes. Marina del Rey is a great place to dine after a memorial or enjoy a family gathering in a scenic place.
Parking & Accessibility
Other Southern California Ash Scattering Departure Locations
🛥️ Marina del Rey Harbor Highlights
⚓ 1. The USA’s biggest small-craft harbor, made by humans
Marina del Rey Harbor has over 4,600 fuel docks, making it the largest small-boat and recreational craft harbor in the USA. The marinas are in good condition and support a variety of vessels from luxury yachts to memorial sailing vessels and charter boats.
🚤 2. Open ocean double protected access through a calm breakwater
The harbor opens directly into Santa Monica bay through a calm breakwater which allows easy and gentle transitions from harbor to open water. This is perfect for ash scattering where comfort and ease is the highest priority.
🌴 3. Bordered with promenades, parks, and picturesque locations
In addition to the aforementioned burton chace park, the walking paths along with palm tree promenades provide an area for the sand, water, and coastal breeze allowing visitors and families a solemn area to gather and reminisce before or after a memorial.
🍽️ 4. Waterfront eateries and fisherman’s village are a stone’s throw away
Fisherman’s village and other eateries like ‘Killer Shrimp’ and ‘Salt Restaurant’ are just a few steps away, making it easy for clients to access food after the gathering and set a easy and relaxed environment for families to spend time over a meal after the memorial.
🛟 5. Up To Standard Private Charters & Services
There are many licensed charter operators in the harbor. Most are specialized in memorials, full-body sea burials, and private ash scattering. Ample public parking, accessible docks, and harbor staff make Marina del Rey a convenient and respectful departure point.
Marina del Rey – Departure Points
| Marina | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Burton Chace Park Dock | Central location with ample parking, public restrooms, and easy passenger drop-off for charter departures. |
| Fisherman’s Village Marina | Scenic waterfront with shops and dining—ideal for families to gather before or after a ceremony. |
| Dock 52 Public Launch | Convenient for smaller vessels; offe |
Marina del Rey Restaurants Near the Marina/Pier
A well-liked convenience stop is famous for its spicy shrimp bowls and also serves other beverages shrimp bowls, full bar, and marina views. Casual and lively — perfect for family gatherings after a ceremony.
🥩 Cast & Plow at The Ritz-Carlton
Overlooks the marina for a fine-dining, farm-to-table meal. Offers seasonal dishes, attentive service, and an elegant, peaceful setting.
🍽️ SALT Restaurant & Bar
SALT, located in the Marina del Rey Hotel, serves upscale coastal California dishes blended with a modern touch. Views and brunch are excellent, and the ambiance is calm and waterside.
🍕 Scopa Italian Roots
A modern Italian-American restaurant known for its bold flavors, handcrafted cocktails, and lively ambiance. Located just a short drive from the harbor—great for families seeking an upscale yet approachable meal.
🌮 The Cheesecake Factory – Marina del Rey
Well-known nationally, this location is unique as it sits right on the marina. The restaurant offers scenic waterfront patio dining along with an extensive menu.
Ready to plan a meaningful and peaceful ocean memorial at sea in Marina del Rey?
Our licensed team is here to guide you every step of the way.
📞 Call 619-694-5544 to begin planning today.
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