  We have arranged our FAQ in sections to help you find the information you're looking for more easily. Feel free to browse through entire page to determine if your questions are answered within. If you can't find the answer you're looking for, the best way to ask your question and get a fast answer is to complete the Consumer Email Inquiry Form. Ask A Question >> FAQ SectionsThe Great Burial Reef Living Urn™The Great Burial Reef Classic™ The Great Burial Reef Mementos The Great Burial Reef® Store Share Your Life Celebration The Great Burial Reef Living Urn™ABOUT THE LIVING URN™ Is the Living Urn™ fragile? The Living Urn™ is cast from 100% natural concrete. It's designed to be rugged and durable, but like all things made of concrete, it can be damaged. Though one person can carry the Living Urn™, we recommend that two adults transport it just to be sure. Do you offer the Living Urn™ in other colors? The Living Urn™ is currently offered in Tuscan Beige. We are currently testing natural pigments for possible color variations in future editions of the Living Urn™ and hope to have color choices available for purchase by January, 2011. How long will the Living Urn™ last? The Living Urn™ benefits from over twelve years of research and development that included a number of construction and scientific experts. Their "best guess" as to how long the Living Urn™ will last, regardless of where it is placed, is at least two hundred years. It's probably worth noting that the first person buried at sea in one of our reefs was our founder's father... there is no greater testament to our process and to our products. How do I know that my loved one's remains are safe? Our unique Care Chamber™ is specifically designed to protect your loved one's remains once it is properly sealed. If you seal the reef according to the instructions and using the marine grade adhesive we provided, your loved one's remains will be safe inside the Living Urn™ for generations. Why is the Living Urn™ roughly textured? The Living Urn™ is textured for a very specific reason. We worked with marine biologists and ecologists to determine the best possible surface texture to attract marine life, and the result is the "coralized" surface texture you see. The small craters and divets allow marine plants and animals to attach to the reef easily... and stay there. Whether you choose salt water, fresh water, or land placement, the Living Urn™ will attract and foster life. Can more than one person go in a Living Urn™? The patent-pending design of the Living Urn™ accommodates the remains of one person and holds 172 cubic inches. Do I have to memorialize all my loved one's remains? No, you don't. In fact, a number of families over the years have told us that they have divided the cremated remains between siblings, or scattered a portion of them over the ocean surface, among other choices. Can I use the Living Urn™ to memorialize my beloved pet? Of course. Purchasing and utlizing a Living Urn™ reef to celebrate the life and memory of a beloved pet is a beautiful expression of love. CELEBRATING LIFE WITH THE LIVING URN™ Do I have to perform the ocean placement of my loved one's Living Urn™? No. For a variety of reasons, some families choose to purchase the Living Urn™ with the option of ocean placement by Great Burial Reef®. If that's your wish, simply send us your loved one's cremated remains, and we will seal them into the Living Urn™ you purchased, and make the ocean placement on your behalf in our home port of Sarasota, Florida. We'll forward a certificate to you upon completion of the service that details the date, time, depth, and precise GPS coordinates of your loved one's Living Urn™. Do I have to perform the life celebration right away? No, of course not. You can keep your Living Urn™ reef for as long as you like before you make your loved one's final placement. If you need time with your loved one, or if you need time to organize and gather your family for the perfect Life Celebration, take all the time you need. It's totally up to you. Can I keep the Living Urn™ in my home? Of course. The Living Urn™ makes a handsome addition to any locale, indoors or outdoors, and keeping it close by gives you the opportunity to visit with your loved one often. Can I paint or decorate the Living Urn™? Absolutely. The Living Urn™ is yours to do with as you please. Any type of paint will work, but we recommend that you check with your favorite home improvement center and purchase paint that will allow you to keep or place the Living Urn™ in an outdoor locale. Can I really put the Living Urn™ anywhere on the planet? Fair question. The best answer is, "almost." The Living Urn™ was designed for ocean placement, but it's also suitable for fresh water or land placement. There are obvious places that would be inappropriate or illegal to do so. Use your best judgment when you choose your loved one's final resting place. please note that the information provided herein is to assist you in the proper, legal placement of cremated human ashes. You should consult the laws of your area before proceeding. Nothing obtained from this website should be misconstrued to be a grant of permission or authority from us to place your Living Urn™ which would be in violation of any local, state or federal laws or which would violate the rights of any person or entity. If you choose to place your Living Urn™ you do so at your own risk and may be held responsible for violations of any applicable law. Great Burail Reef® will not be held liable for any violations or losses suffered due to improper placement of a Living Urn™. If I choose water placement, will the Living Urn™ sink? Yes. If you choose to place your Living Urn™ reef in the ocean or fresh water, it will sink. Can the Military Funeral Honors Ceremony be performed for a Living Urn™ Life Celebration? Yes. To make those arrangements for a private Life Celebration, ask the funeral funeral service provider who performed the cremation to assist you in making your arrangements. You'll need a copy of your loved one's DD Form 214 (discharge paperwork). More Information>> What's the best way to transport the Living Urn™? The recycled carton in which your Living Urn™ arrived is the absolute best way for it to travel to its final destination. Use the extra piece of sealing tape enclosed in the box to reseal the box, and make sure you use the recycled styrofoam inserts to cushion the Living Urn™ during travel. Can the sealed Living Urn™ travel by commercial air? It depends on the commercial airline of your choice. We strongly recommend that you check with your selected airline prior to purchasing tickets, as some of the major U.S. carriers permit human remains to travel as checked baggage, and some do not. The same advice applies to carrying on your Living Urn™ into the passenger cabin of the aircraft. Some airlines have size restrictions that would make the Living Urn™ disallowed. All that being said, we have received many stories from families who mentioned totally safe and uneventful flights with their Living Urn™ reef. Can the Living Urn™ be buried? Sure. The Living Urn™ is made of natural concrete, and is similar to many conventional burial vaults. It will protect its precious contents underground for generations. If I place my loved one's Living Urn™ in the ocean, how do I know it's legal? In the United States, burial at sea is authorized through federal laws and code. You are required to travel at least 3 miles from shore before you make your placement. Upon completion of your ocean placement, you should complete a short form to notify the Environmental Protection Agency of the placement. To do so, click on the link next to the appropriate state ocean locale (the state location nearest the ocean you selected): CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT - EPA Region 1 Form NY, NJ, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands - EPA Region 2 Form PA, DE, MD, VA, WV, DC - EPA Region 3 Form NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, MS - EPA Region 4 Form NM, TX, OK, AR, LA - EPA Region 6 Form AZ, CA, NV - EPA Region 9 Form AK, WA, OR, ID - EPA Region 10 Form If you reside outside the United States, burial at sea customs and laws vary by country and region, but are often more relaxed than those of the United States. Check with your local and/or national government to ensure that you are not placing your loved one's Living Urn™ illegally or irresponsibly. What if I choose a freshwater or land location? How do I know that's legal? Our general advice is simple: if you don't personally own the land or freshwater in which you plan to place the Living Urn™ check before you act. We don't recommend or condone placing your Living Urn™ anywhere that you know creates an illegal or irresponsible act on your part. Having said that, laws and regulations vary from state to state and in some cases, by municipality. It would be impossible to gather them all in one place. We recommend that you check with your local or state government and inquire what the customs and laws in your area are. Great Burial Reef® will not be held responsible for any violations or losses suffered due to improper or illegal placement of a Living Urn™. The Great Burial Reef Classic™ABOUT THE CLASSIC™ Why is the Classic™ roughly textured? The Classic™ is textured for a very specific reason. We worked with marine biologists and ecologists to determine the best possible surface texture to attract marine life, and the result is the "coralized" surface texture you see. The small craters and divets allow marine plants and animals to attach to the reef easily... and stay there. How do I know my loved one(s) will be safe? Your loved one's remains will be sealed into the Care Chamber™ of the Classic™ reef on land, prior to ocean placement. We use a special marine grade adhesive (the same glue used to repair hull damage on ocean class vessels) to seal the Heart Seal™. That adhesive and our specially designed chamber will protect your loved one's remains for generations. How long will the Classic™ last? The patent-pending design of The Classic™ benefits from over twelve years of research and development that included a number of construction and scientific experts. Their "best guess" as to how long the Classic™ will last in the ocean environment is at least three hundred years, but probably much more. It's probably worth noting that the first person buried at sea in one of our reefs was our founder's father... there is no greater testament to our process and to our products. If I choose to honor a couple, how does that work? The Care Chamber™ of the Classic™ is designed to accommodate the remains of a single individual or couple. Is there a plaque or marker that identifies the reef underwater? No. However, each reef has a unique serial number embedded into its Care Chamber™, and we catalog each ocean placement by serial number and precise GPS coordinates, so that we always know where your loved one's final resting place is. Ocean Placement ServicesWhich ocean placement port of call is the best? That's a tough question. We currently offer ocean placements in Sarasota-Florida, Miami-Florida, Chesapeake Bay-Maryland, and in Boston Harbor-Massachusetts. While Sarasota is our home base, each of our ports of call was selected based on its picturesque locale, our ability to secure a reef permit in the area, and the area's specific need for artificial reef habitat. In the end, selecting one port of call over the other is a matter for your and your family to discuss. We are honored to place your loved one in any of our ocean reef sites. What is a reef site? Do you put them in specific places in the ocean? A reef site is a plot of land that has been set aside for our use. We work with a variety of federal, state, and municipal governmental agencies to secure permits to place Classic™ reefs on the ocean floor. Believe it or not, it took us seven years to secure our first permit because nobody had ever heard of living coral reef burial. It's certainly easier now that everyone knows who we are and what we're doing to improve coral reef habitat. We look forward to expanding to an ocean near you in the future! How deep is the water? The depth is different at each of our reef sites, but ranges from 30 feet deep to 120 feet deep. Can you see the reef(s) from the surface? Sometimes it's possible to actually see the reefs from the surface. It depends on the depth in question, and the "visibility." Visibility refers to the content of plants, marine animals, and particulates in the water, which often make visibility less than perfect. Do you bury pets at sea? Regrettably, our Ocean Placement Services are only available for human beings. You're more than welcome to purchase a Living Urn™ reef and perform your own sea burial for your pet if you wish. Do I have to participate? Of course not. In fact, many families choose not to do so for reasons that are totally understandible. It is sometimes a matter of timing, and sometimes a matter of cost. Regardless of the reason, that's why we made it possible for you to ship your loved one's remains to us and have us perform the sea burial on our schedule. Please know that we perform each ocean placement and dedication with dignity and great care, regardless of whether it is witnessed or not. Which ports of call offer Family Participation Services? All four of our ocean ports of call offer Family Participation Services. Those services are handled by trusted and approved third party yacht charter companies that operate under New England Burials at Sea, LLC, which is based in Boston, Massachusetts. When you purchase a Classic™ reef, you will be given the opportunity to participate. If you wish to participate, please complete the Family Participation Services portion of the order form. We will contact you shortly after you place your order to confirm your service date and reservations. Please note that payment for Family Participation Services is not handled directly by Great Burial Reef®, but by the selected yacht service provider. How many people can participate? That depends entirely on you. Our service providers have a variety of ocean class yachts that can accommodate groups of most sizes. When you purchase a Classic™ reef, you will be given the opportunity to participate, and if you choose to do so, you will receive a call from our approved service provider to confirm your service date and reservations. At that time, you can discuss your particular group's size and needs. Can the Military Funeral Honors Ceremony be performed for an Classic™ Life Celebration? Yes. For families who choose to participate in their loved one's Ocean Placement Life Celebration, we would be honored to make those arrangements on your behalf at all four of our ports of call. Please make sure to include a copy of your loved one's DD Form 214 when you ship the remains and other documents to us and we'll make all the arrangements for a dockside ceremony.More Information>> What if I have other Family Participation Services questions? If you haven't found the answer to your specific question on our website or here in the F.A.Q., you're more than welcome to use the "General Contact Form" to send a question or two to us, or call our Customer Support Center at (941) 548-6123. Great Burial Reef® MementosWhy do people buy Mementos? The reasons for purchasing Mementos vary as much as the people who buy them. Some people buy them to have a visual reminder of their Life Celebration in their home always. Some purchase them to offer as memory gifts for those who participate in their loved one's life celebration. Regardless of the reason, we are honored to provide the Great Burial Reef Mini™ and Heart Seal™ as authentic and exact replicas of their true-life counterparts, and it is our hope that you'll enjoy them, and pass them down from generation to generation. Does the Great Burial Reef Mini™ hold cremated remains? No. The Great Burial Reef Mini™ is cast as a solid object, without a Care Chamber™. It is designed to be a visual reminder of either the Living Urn™ or Classic™ you choose to celebrate your loved one's life and memory. Can I put the Great Burial Reef Mini™ in water? Sure. The Mini™ is hand cast from exactly the same natural concrete and special natural additives as its larger cousins, the Living Urn™ and the Classic™, both of which are designed for ocean or fresh water placement. We recently had a nice letter from a family in Rapid City, IA who told us that they had placed their grandfather's Living Urn™ reef, and to commemorate their Life Celebration, they placed their Mini™ in a large salt-water aquarium in their home. And yes, in case you were wondering, that reef will attract life in the aquarium! How do I keep my Mementos clean? We recommend dusting your Mementos as often as you wish. If your Memento requires a little deeper cleaning, you may use clear water and a sponge or damp rag, and it's equally okay to use your favorite window cleaner. We strongly recommend against using any cleaning product that contains bleach. Can I order Mementos without purchasing a Living Urn™ or Classic™ reef? Absolutely. Quite often, we receive orders for Mementos only, and it's always interesting to learn that those purchases are tied to previous Living Urn™ or Classic™ purchases, and more often than not, are made by a person other than the original purchaser. The Great Burial Reef® StoreWhat forms of payment do you accept? We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and JCB credit and debit cards. Can I mail in an order to you? Regretably, no. All purchases must be made using The Great Burial Reef® Store online to protect the personal data and financial transactions of our valued client families. We regret any inconvenience or discomfort this may cause. Can I make my purchase through my funeral director? Absolutely. When you begin your arrangement process, let your funeral director know that you wish to purchase Great Burial Reef® products or services. Your funeral director can make the purchase on your behalf immediately using The Great Burial Reef® Store online. I have placed an order. How can I change my order? Your absolute satisfaction is our goal and our guarantee. Provided we have not shipped your order, you can change it. Please refer to the instructions you received in your Order Confirmation Email for specific instructions on changing your existing order with us. You can also send us an email using the "General Contact Form" - Make sure you include your order number in your message. We'll do everything we can to accommodate your request. What is your return and refund policy? Your absolute satisfaction is our goal and our guarantee. We have an extensive and thoughtful return and refund policy listed on our "Terms & Conditions" page. Learn More >> Is my personal and financial information safe? Absolutely. We go to great lengths to protect your privacy. In fact, we have a "Privacy Policy" page for your reference. Learn More >> Share Your Life StoryWhy have you asked me to share the story of my loved one's Life Celebration? Three reasons, none of which is meant to be self-serving. First, we're simply curious how our products are being used out in the world. Second, we believe that telling the story of your Life Celebration is cathartic and an important step in the healing process. And third, if you choose to share your story with us and allow us to share it with others, it may inspire other families in their own Life Celebration planning. What will you be doing with my submission? You may share your story with us and indicate in your submission that you either DO or DON'T wish it to be shared with others. If you DON'T want it shared with others, we'll simply read and enjoy it, and safely save it to our protected archives. If you DO want to share your story with others, we may post it online on the "Your Stories" page. Please note, we reserve the right to edit images and or stories for content and length. Top |
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