Photo courtesy of Doorway Into Light
PREPARATIONS
A full body (non-cremated) burial at sea needs to take place at least 3 miles offshore, at a depth of at least 600 feet (100 fathoms), and be outside a marine mammal sanctuary.
All preparations for a shrouded burial can be performed by Doorway Into Light, on Maui. The body can be viewed prior to being wrapped in a shroud. Then once the body has been wrapped, family members can write memorial tributes on the shroud and tuck stemmed flowers inside the wrapping straps. This is a unique and significant method to aid in a dignified and affirming closure.
The shroud is securely wrapped and weighted at the feet with cotton bags of sand. Once wrapped, the body is secured to a stretcher for transportation and deployment.
FAMILY AND FRIENDS PARTICIPATION
Family and friends are invited to go out on the boat and have a personalized ceremony/ritual and then witness the release of their loved one’s body into the ocean. At that time flowers or wreaths can be tossed onto the water, marking the exact spot of burial. The boat will circle the floating flowers as a farewell and then return to shore.
On returning to land, the family will receive a certificate of the exact location that their loved one’s body was released. This makes it possible for family and friends to return to the site in the future.