Frequently Asked Questions
Explore our FAQ to learn more about the process and how you can commemorate your loved ones in a lasting and impactful way. If you have further questions or would like more information, please contact us.
A memorial reef is created by mixing a loved one’s cremated remains into liquid concrete to form a designed reef system. We place a plaque on it and place it in legally permitted areas of the Gulf to create new marine habitats for fish and other forms of sea life.
Yes, family members are notified of the casting dates and are encouraged to participate in the casting as they wish.
Yes, we will assist you with arrangements and boat reservations to dedicate the Memorial Reef Site.
A Memorial Reef can only be placed in permitted locations that are approved by Federal, State, and local governments. OAR has several permitted areas directly off the coast of Franklin County and Wakulla County, FL. Our staff has selected a primary location within our permitted areas that are ideal for re-generating new marine ecosystems and accessible to SCUBA divers.
The memorial reefs are designed to last forever. Our reef mixture begins with standard concrete and adds special additives that increase its strength. We add natural Florida Limestone which is eco-friendly attracts critical marine life, and encourages the growth of various species. This growth eventually coats the Memorial Reefs and enriches the environment.
With hundreds of Reefs constructed and deployed, the Memorial Reef has been engineered to withstand the strongest storms the Gulf can produce. Our Reefs have withstood every storm since the inception of OAR.
Yes. We have a dedicated dive team that periodically monitors the artificial reefs and records the conditions. Results of the reef surveys and accompanying photos/videos are posted at www.oarreefs.org
All individual memorial reefs have space for a marble plaque with plenty of room for an inscription. We can have the plaque made for you, or you can provide your own.
We record the coordinates as we place the Memorial Reef on the Gulf’s bottom and publish the coordinates on the OAR website. The authorized family representative will receive a certificate that identifies the longitude and latitude of the memorial reef.
Yes, you can visit Memorial Reefs. You can visit by boat and fish or dive on the Memorial Reef. The exact coordinates will be listed on your Memorial Reef Certificate as well as posted on the OAR website and local nautical charts.
Yes, you can have one set or multiple sets mixed in a Memorial Reef at the time of the casting. There are some limitations based on the amount of remains and the size of the memorial. Please call for more details.
Deployments occur at least once a year, and more often depending on the type of Reef and our annual funding situation.
Once the Memorial Reefs have been cast, family and friends are allowed to personalize the Reef by creating handprints, inserting personal keepsakes, and writing messages in the damp concrete reef mixture before it dries. Many loved ones feel this is a wonderful way to stay in touch for eternity.
OAR is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit corporation; therefore, donations may qualify for a tax deduction. This determination will be left to your professional accountant.
Please contact OAR.