Planning Your Ocean Scattering Ahead: A Gift to the People You Love

The holidays are a few weeks away. For many families, that means time together around one table, sometimes for the first time all year. Over thirty years on the water, I've noticed that this is often when people start talking about the plans no one really wants to bring up. Someone says, "When my time comes, I'd like to go back to the sea." Then the room gets quiet, and the conversation drifts somewhere easier.

I'd like to help you have that conversation all the way through. Preplanning an ocean scattering is one of the kindest things you can do for the people you love. It turns a hard week of guessing into a simple promise that's already been kept.

## Why plan ahead

When a loved one passes without a plan, the family has to make dozens of decisions in a few days, usually while grieving and often while disagreeing. Brothers and sisters remember different wishes. Someone wonders if a sea scattering is even legal. Someone else worries about the cost.

When the plan is already in place, all of that falls away. The family knows what was wanted, where, and how. They can spend their energy on remembering instead of deciding. I wrote about this years ago in [Plan Your Ash Scattering: Top 5 Reasons](https://www.oceanashes.com/ocean-ashes/pre-plan), and every family I've served since has made me believe it more.

## The decisions worth making now

You don't need to settle every detail. A few choices do most of the work.

*Attended or unattended.* An attended private charter brings up to six guests aboard with me or one of our port captains for a quiet ceremony offshore. It's $595 and runs about two hours. Our flagship is Maximo Marina in Saint Petersburg, and you can read more on our [Saint Petersburg page](https://www.oceanashes.com/saint-petersburg). If your group is larger than six, we split it into separate trips. We don't use a larger vessel, because keeping it small is what keeps it personal.

An [unattended scattering](https://www.oceanashes.com/unattended) is $189. You ship the cremated remains to us, and the captain carries out the scattering respectfully on your behalf. It's the right choice for many families who live far from the coast, or who would rather hold their own gathering at home.

*Where.* Most families choose based on where the person felt most at home: a beloved Gulf beach, a fishing spot from years past, or simply the open water. You can see all our options on our [packages page](https://www.oceanashes.com/new-products-1).

*How it will be remembered.* Every scattering is recorded with GPS coordinates and listed in our [National Scattering Registry](https://www.oceanashes.com/national-scattering-registry). That gives your family a real place on the map they can return to by boat, or simply look up on a quiet evening. Additional memorial certificates are $20 each, so each household can keep one.

*Who decides on the day.* Write down a name. Choose the person who will contact us, hold the cremated remains, and make any small calls. That one sentence spares a family a great deal of uncertainty.

## Is it allowed?

Yes. Burial at sea is governed by federal law, and the Environmental Protection Agency allows cremated remains to be scattered at least three nautical miles from shore. You can read the guidance yourself on the [EPA's burial at sea page](https://www.epa.gov/ocean-dumping/burial-sea). We handle the required reporting, so your family doesn't have to.

## How to start the conversation

If you're planning for yourself, the easiest way is often to just say it plainly: "I've been thinking about what I want, and I'd like to be scattered at sea. I want you to know so you don't have to wonder." Most families are relieved. They were thinking about it too.

If you're planning for a parent, try asking rather than telling. "Have you ever thought about what you'd want?" is gentler than "We need to talk about your funeral." Let them tell you about the water they loved. The plan usually follows from the story.

Then write it down. Put a short note with the rest of your important papers: attended or unattended, which port, who's in charge, and how to reach us. Our [forms page](https://www.oceanashes.com/forms) has what we'll eventually need, and it helps to look it over now.

## A promise kept

Families sometimes ask me what the hardest part of my work is. Honestly, it's seeing people struggle to guess what their mother or father would have wanted. The easiest part is when someone hands me a folded note and says, "Dad already told us." We take the boat out, the water is calm, and the family knows they did exactly what he asked.

If you'd like to talk through a plan for yourself or someone you love, no pressure and no deadline, [reach out to us here](https://www.oceanashes.com/contact). I'm always glad to answer questions.

With respect,
Captain Brett McGhee
Ocean Ashes