Saw this in this morning's Guardian. Didn't know what section to put it but it's interesting
Watery graves offer a haven for divers
About 14 metres beneath the ocean's surface lies a cemetery with gates, pathways, plaques and even benches.
The Neptune Memorial Reef, which opened last autumn, is seen by its creators as a perfect final resting spot for those who loved the sea. They hope the reef will one day cover 6.5 hectares (16 acres) and have room for 125,000 remains.
"This is simply as good as it gets," said Gary Levine, a diver who conceived the reef and is now a shareholder in the company that owns it.
The Neptune Memorial Reef is located in open waters three 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 mould, 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.
Jim Hutslar, who manages the construction and placing of the memorials, said he wears sunglasses when mixing the remains with cement to hide his emotions, especially when the family of the deceased is present.
"I intentionally try to think about the person," Hutslar said. "I am pretty sentimental anyway."
In March, the remains of 93-year-old diver Bert Kilbride, who called himself the Last Pirate of the Caribbean, were placed on the top of a column of the reef's main gate. Kilbride was named the oldest living scuba diver in this year's Guinness World Records.
"I think he would feel very honoured," his son, Gary Kilbride, said.
Artist Kim Brandell, who designed the reef, said he was given no parameters in the reef's designs, which grew as they waited three years for permits. The structures are 90% cement. Some of the sculptural elements are in bronze and steel. It is the same pH balance as the sea, Brandell said.
"I designed it to be a divers' location. I am hoping and planning it be to the most dived location on the planet. I didn't want it to look like Roman or Greek architecture. I wanted it to be contemporary or modern in design."
As a diver swims down the pathways of the reef there will be themed areas, like dancing or sports. "If it's music I might have concrete or metal musical instruments," Brandell said. "Nothing is going to be in words to describe these features. It will be sculptural elements."
The cost of a placement starts at $995 (£510) and can go up to $6,495.
Hutslar said the reef is designed to last for ever and engineered to withstand the harshest hurricane that has hit Florida in the past 100 years.
Keith Mille, an environmental specialist with Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, said he was impressed with the engineering concepts for the reef and the environment it creates for divers.
Watery graves offer a haven for divers
About 14 metres beneath the ocean's surface lies a cemetery with gates, pathways, plaques and even benches.
The Neptune Memorial Reef, which opened last autumn, is seen by its creators as a perfect final resting spot for those who loved the sea. They hope the reef will one day cover 6.5 hectares (16 acres) and have room for 125,000 remains.
"This is simply as good as it gets," said Gary Levine, a diver who conceived the reef and is now a shareholder in the company that owns it.
The Neptune Memorial Reef is located in open waters three 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 mould, 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.
Jim Hutslar, who manages the construction and placing of the memorials, said he wears sunglasses when mixing the remains with cement to hide his emotions, especially when the family of the deceased is present.
"I intentionally try to think about the person," Hutslar said. "I am pretty sentimental anyway."
In March, the remains of 93-year-old diver Bert Kilbride, who called himself the Last Pirate of the Caribbean, were placed on the top of a column of the reef's main gate. Kilbride was named the oldest living scuba diver in this year's Guinness World Records.
"I think he would feel very honoured," his son, Gary Kilbride, said.
Artist Kim Brandell, who designed the reef, said he was given no parameters in the reef's designs, which grew as they waited three years for permits. The structures are 90% cement. Some of the sculptural elements are in bronze and steel. It is the same pH balance as the sea, Brandell said.
"I designed it to be a divers' location. I am hoping and planning it be to the most dived location on the planet. I didn't want it to look like Roman or Greek architecture. I wanted it to be contemporary or modern in design."
As a diver swims down the pathways of the reef there will be themed areas, like dancing or sports. "If it's music I might have concrete or metal musical instruments," Brandell said. "Nothing is going to be in words to describe these features. It will be sculptural elements."
The cost of a placement starts at $995 (£510) and can go up to $6,495.
Hutslar said the reef is designed to last for ever and engineered to withstand the harshest hurricane that has hit Florida in the past 100 years.
Keith Mille, an environmental specialist with Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, said he was impressed with the engineering concepts for the reef and the environment it creates for divers.
at the top of the pages.
