Sea Burial
Sea burials allow those who have centred their lives around the ocean to continue that powerful love affair after life.
The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul.
About Sea Burial
Many of us live our lives by the ocean, it soothes, calms and reinvigorates, it is a powerful reminder of the ebbs and flows of life.
The water brings us much joy, whether it be swimming, surfing, boating, fishing or simply marvelling at the power of nature as we watch the waves crash against the shore.
When it comes to funeral arrangements, you may want to incorporate your love of the ocean by requesting a sea burial.
At Tiare, we pride ourselves on creating unique services and would be happy to guide you through the process of sea burial.
We pride ourselves on creating beautifully unique services that capture the essence of your loved one, we will guide you through the process of sea burial
We can help to arrange the legally required documentation and permit applications
We can organise transportation to the burial site
We ensure that the body is prepared according to sea burial regulations
Cost POA
How can Tiare help
Sea Burials and Regulations
In Australia, Sea Burials are regulated by the Australian Federal Government under the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981.
Stringent rules apply to sea burials and permission is required from the federal and sometimes state governments.
There is no automatic right to a burial at sea. Permits are generally granted to those who can show they have a demonstrated connection to the sea, such as long-serving navy personnel, mariners and fishermen.
You should have your wishes for a sea burial included in your death care and end-of-life arrangement plan and ensure this is filed with the executor of your estate. If you would like to be buried on spiritual or cultural grounds, please ensure this is included in your plan also.
A sea burial permit application will need to be submitted for consideration. The application is in-depth and will require detailed information as to why a sea burial should be granted, for example, naval service records or vessels that were captained.
The details provided in this application form will be assessed to determine the connection to the ocean and any other considerations.
Based on this assessment, the Minister for the Environment may grant or refuse a permit under section 19 of the Sea Dumping Act. While statutory time frames under the Sea Dumping Act apply, the department aims to complete the sea burial permit approval process within 3 or 4 working days.
It is important to note that scattering of ashes does not constitute burial at sea and does not require a permit.
What documents do I need for a burial at sea?
Medical certificate of death, or Coroner’s order for burial, or order authorising the disposal of a body
Payment of the permit application fee of $1675.
Processing is most efficient when application forms are submitted complete with payment and supporting documentation. Contact details for the application should be up to date in case correspondence is required.
What location can I choose for my sea burial?
Sea burials are only permitted in waters with a depth greater than 3000 metres and sea burial sites must not conflict with other uses of the sea, such as trawling or fishing grounds. Due to these constraints, sea burial sites are usually located a long distance offshore. There are a number of options for reaching the burial site:
Tiare can arrange a boat with a qualified skipper
Tiare can arrange a helicopter flight
You may, if you wish, use your family boat which must have a qualified skipper on board to track and record GPS location.
Please note, that all options will have limitations on the number of people who can attend.
Does the body need to be prepared for sea burial?
It is important to note that bodies must be prepared appropriately for sea burial.
The body should be sewn into a shroud made of a very strong, biodegradable material that does not contain plastic fibres and has not been chemically treated (e.g., Calico). The shroud should be adequately weighted (all plastics must be removed) to ensure rapid descent and permanent submersion of the body and include slits or openings to minimise flotation.
What Are My Options For Burial?
In addition to sea burial, we have other burial options that you can choose from. Whatever you choose, our mission is to support you and to create a beautiful ceremony that is truly yours.