Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Travel / Outdoors


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published May 12, 2008 at 12:00 AM | Page modified May 12, 2008 at 2:32 PM

E-mail article     Print view

An underwater cemetery near Miami draws scuba divers

Artificial reef near Miami is a cemetery, scuba-dive attraction

The Associated Press

Information

Neptune Memorial Reef: www.nmreef.com/

MIAMI — About 45 feet beneath the ocean's surface lies a cemetery with gates, pathways, plaques and even benches.

The Neptune Memorial Reef, which opened last fall, is a t final resting spot for those who loved the sea. Its builders hope that one day the reef will cover 16 acres and have room for 125,000 remains.

The Neptune Memorial Reef is located in open waters 3 ¼ miles off the coast of Key Biscayne, which means any certified diver can visit. The artificial reef's first phase allows for about 850 remains.

The ashes are mixed with cement designed for underwater use and fitted into a mold, which a diver then places and secures into the reef. A copper and bronze plaque is installed with the person's name, date of birth and death. There is also a line for a message.

In March, the remains of 93-year-old diver Bert Kilbride — who called himself "The Last Pirate of the Caribbean" — were placed atop a column of the reef's main gate, because of his contributions to the sea. Before his death, Kilbride was named the oldest living scuba diver in this year's Guinness Book of World Records.

"I think he would feel very honored," his son Gary Kilbride said. "This is somebody who has been connected to the sea his whole life."

Stephen Blair, chief of the restoration and enhancement section of Miami-Dade County's department of Environmental Resources Management, which has oversight of the reef, said it will become a tourist attraction.

"I think the combination of the structure, the dive-site aspect as well as the how it's being used, makes it a unique site," Blair said.

Keith Mille, an environmental specialist with Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, said another method of burying ashes inside reef balls creates a habitat for fish and corals to attach. But he was impressed with the engineering concepts for this reef and the environment that it creates for divers.

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

More Travel headlines...

E-mail article Print view      Share:    Digg     Newsvine

advertising

NEW - 11:33 AM
Get ready for Thanksgiving flight delays, thanks to New York

UPDATE - 12:30 PM
Biofuel used on Boeing 747 flight

Banff: powder, peaks & purity

Thanksgiving travel plans expected to grow slightly

Ask Travel: A free day in Prague

Advertising

Video

Real Salt Lake wins MLS Cup
Real Salt Lake defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy with penalty kicks after 120 minutes of play at Qwest Field in Seattle.

Raw Video | Real Salt Lake receives the MLS Cup trophy
Raw Video | Real Salt Lake fans celebrate
Real Salt Lake fans enter Qwest Field
Raw Video | MLS Cup Opening Ceremony
LA Galaxy's David Beckham
Real Salt Lake's Kyle Beckerman
MLS trophy arrives in Seattle
Chittenden Locks Inspection
Full interview with New Moon actors

Marketplace

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 
Advertising