Frequently Asked Questions
I need information immediately. How do I reach you?
We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to take your call. Simply call our toll free number 1-888-608-3707 or 503-355-2087. We return all messages as soon as possible.
What if I don't want to inter my loved ones ashes in a monument or have chosen a different type of burial option, can I still participate in the ocean habitat program?
YES. We handcraft a specially sized monument called a "Dedication" monument. This monument is slightly smaller than our signature "Individual" monument, although it is just as stable and provides the vital sea life habitat. We place all our monuments gently on the ocean floor and provide you with a certificate noting the GPS location of your monument. It is a wonderful way to celebrate the life of anyone, bettering the ocean and our environment at the same time. Please see our pricing list or call us for more information about our new "Dedication" Monument option.
How do I get cremated remains to Twin Rocks Undersea Memorial?
There are many options available. We can personally pick up cremated remains directly from your funeral home or from your residence. We also accept cremated remains mailed through the US Postal Service. Please mail certified/registered, with a signed return. This assures you that we have received them. With all monument orders, we must have the authorization and order forms completed before receiving your loved ones cremated remains. These forms are easy to use and are important for your protection. Please call us and we will help you decide which method is the best way for us to proceed at 1-888-608-3707.
Why should I choose a burial at sea?
Many different societies/people have used burial at sea over thousands of years, for different reasons. There can be many reasons to choose a burial at sea; one of the most common in today's time is that there is a real scarcity of land available for traditional cemeteries. The space that is available comes at an increasingly higher cost. Our uniquely designed monuments provide a vital habitat for sea life at a very reasonable price. You may be interested to know that many famous persons have chosen a burial at sea and here are just a few: John F. Kennedy Jr, Vincent Price, Robert Mitchum, L. Ron Hubbard, Ingrid Bergman, Jerry Garcia, Rock Hudson, Janis Joplin, Steve McQueen, and Dennis Wilson just to name a few.
Are there environmental laws and regulations governing burial at sea in any form?
Burial at sea is strictly regulated by many governmental agencies. You can be assured that if you choose Twin Rocks Undersea Memorial for your permanent undersea burial, all current and known regulations will be fully complied with. The regulations governing burial at sea can vary greatly depending on the ocean you are considering. This is certain for all oceans, nothing can be placed in the ocean without proper notification and penalties can be very high. At Twin Rocks Undersea Memorial we carefully follow, maintain and comply with all known Pacific Ocean regulations, permits and proper notifications.
Where does Twin Rocks Undersea Memorial place their monuments and why?
We have very carefully researched and received approval for permanent positioning of our monuments in a specific area a little more than three miles off shore, near Rockaway, Oregon. We chose this site for many reasons, including the following: revitalizing sea life habitats in an area that is in particular need, the safety and stability of our monuments after placement (each one of our monuments weighs approximately ¾ of a ton), accessibility for placement, approval for placement and an easily visible from land site marker for loved ones; the Twin Rocks. We are also authorized to make placements in other specified areas all along the Oregon coastline; however, additional travel/location fees will apply.
Does Twin Rocks Undersea Memorial do burials anywhere else?
Yes. We do offer placements all up and down the Oregon Coastline in specifically approved areas. The rates we are currently offering for a limited time, reflect placement at our Signature site near the Twin Rocks in Rockaway, Oregon. Our "Community" Monuments are always placed at our Twin Rocks placement site. If you would like to have an "Individual" or "Dedication" Monument placed in another location, please contact us regarding possible additional travel/location fees at 1-888-608-3707.
Why do burial at sea fees vary so greatly?
There are many reasons why burial at sea fees vary. Some services offer only basic "scattering" services. A loved one's remains are simply floated onto the top of the water and left or placed in "bio-degradable" urn and dropped. Some businesses offer a wide range of yachts and other boats to attend scattering services, requiring large crews. Sometimes docking fees are included with businesses that own their own boating fleets and with recently higher fuel costs, those fees are now being adding in to most contracts on both coasts in the United States. Companies that maintain their own passenger fleets must maintain their fleets and carry very expensive liability policies. Further, there are the very different rules and permits required for each ocean, sometimes including seasonal and off-seasonal rates.
At Twin Rocks Undersea Memorial we don't just 'scatter' remains randomly, or use "bio degradable" urns. Such urns do nothing to improve our Ocean. Our permanently placed, specially designed monuments provide a vital sea life habitat and improve the Ocean. Additionally, we carefully control our costs in order to provide you with the best price for authorized ocean monument burial in the world today.
Can we attend our loved ones' monument placement?
If you would like to accompany the placement boat, we have a list of private captains that will charter their boats for you to attend a placement. Some other ocean burial service companies maintain their own passenger yachts, which increase costs in maintenance and liability. Maintaining a reasonable cost to you is one reason we do not maintain a private passenger fleet.
You are not required to attend your loved ones monument placement, in fact most people do not. Instead, many choose to meet on the beach in front of the Twin Rocks, or other family gathering areas. We can also provide a life-size foam model of our Undersea Monuments that can be used with indoor Memorial/Celebration-of-Life gatherings. Please call us if you are interested in including our model in your memorial service. You will be presented with a certificate that provides the GPS location of the permanent undersea placement. We work very carefully to preserve and respect the dignity and privacy of your loved one. You can rest assured that each placement is respectfully attended and completed.
Can special words, flowers, religious services performed or other special requests?
We do everything possible to accommodate your special requests. Please contact us with your specific requests so that we may assist you. 1-888-608-3707.
I would like a special Memento that I may keep. What does Twin Rocks Undersea Memorial provide for mementos?
As you may know, burial at sea is permanent, as is cremation. One way we grieve and come to terms with the loss of a loved one is to establish and visit memorials. Sometimes family members may wish to have a personal memento of the undersea memorial to keep. Twin Rocks Undersea Memorial offers custom made, handcrafted and stylized mini versions of our Undersea Monuments. Each one is made out of local or exotic woods and will have a personalized plaque attached. All memento pieces are unique and crafted by a local artisan. Another option is an engraved marble stone plaque with the same personal information provided on our memento pieces. For others, the Pacific Ocean itself presents a lovely memorial icon. Choosing a memorial memento is deeply personal and we at Twin Rocks Undersea Memorial believe that it should remain that way. We do not require the purchase of any personal mementos.
Are there any special rates for veterans?
Yes. We at Twin Rocks Undersea Memorial are dedicated to assisting families of all military branches with their burial at sea needs. We especially appreciate the service and sacrifice they have provided our nation and provide special rates for their families. If you are struggling with an active duty death, please call us right away. We can assist you immediately with your placement. Otherwise, please call us for specially reduced rates and the requirements at 1-888-608-3707 or 503-355-2087.
We feel it is important to inform you that the US Navy will perform sea burials for veterans and their families free of charge; however, certain restrictions apply and can take some time to complete. You must contact the US Navy directly for their assistance if you are interested in their service.
Can I make preplanning arrangements?
Yes, and we highly recommend that you do. The best way to begin prearrangements is to first discuss what your wishes are with your family. After that, contact your local funeral director and tell them you would like to arrange for Twin Rocks Undersea Memorial to handle your final arrangements for placement. Then give us a call. We can assist you with your decision to make the earth a better place by choosing an ocean burial with Twin Rocks Undersea Memorial. 1-888-608-3707 or 503-355-2087.
Pricing
What does a handcrafted obelisk with permanent ocean placement cost?
INDIVIDUAL MONUMENT
The basic rate is $3,750.00 $1,875.00* This includes handcrafting your one-of-a-kind monument (approximately ¾ of a ton), your loved ones cremated remains are interred - in the urn, in the center of the monument, personalized plaque, vessel, crew and captain, and permanent placement gently on the ocean floor in a specified area a few miles from the Twin Rocks in Rockaway, Oregon with GPS location. For a limited time, we will also provide one memento piece with personalized plaque. The memento piece will eventually be sold for an additional $300. Multiple sets of cremated remains can be placed at the same time in the "Individual" Monument, up to four sets at the time of crafting. Please call for more information about multiple placements if you are interested in placing more than one set of remains. 1-888-608-3707.
DEDICATION MONUMENT
If you would like to participate in our ocean habitat program without interring remains, you may do so by purchasing a "Dedication" monument for $1,750.00 $1,250.00* that is slightly smaller than our signature monument (nearly ¾ of a ton). You will be provided a certificate with the GPS location of your monument. This is a wonderful way to celebrate your loved one's life and better our Ocean. A personal memento piece is available for purchase and has a personalized marble stone with personal information and GPS location for $300.00
COMMUNITY MONUMENT
New! We are now offering a "Community" Monument, at $250.00 per set of ashes. This monument is handcrafted with niches for sea life (approximately ¾ of ton) and looks just like our other monuments in every way. The ashes of your loved one are gently mixed with ashes of up to 10 others and permanently interred in the monument. The monument is then permanently placed on the ocean floor at our Signature Twin Rocks placement site. With our "Community" Monument, no other placement location is available.
PERSONAL MEMENTO
Personal mementos are available for purchase with any Monument at $300.00 a piece (One memento piece is included in the price of our "Individual" Monument). Each one is handcrafted from local or exotic wood by local artisans. They are personalized with a marble piece and are lovely reminders of the choice you made to improve our Ocean and the earth.
REPLICA
We also have a 2/3-size replica monument at around $500-$1,000 for memorial/celebration-of -life gatherings, etc. The memorial/celebration piece is made of foam, but crafted to look just like the actual ocean monument. The foam construction makes it easier to display and transport. If you would like to use the memorial/celebration piece, please call for rate. The rate will depend on where, when and for how long you will need the piece. This includes hand delivery, setup, attending, breakdown upon ceremony end and return. This also includes a personalized (when time allows) marble capstone that will be displayed with the memorial/celebration piece and then used on the actual undersea monument. When time does not allow for personalization, we have a lovely marble piece with an engraved portrait of Twin Rocks.
*In these troubling economic times, we are trying to assist in every way we can. We are temporarily offering lower prices on our monuments. The pricing listed is for placement at our Signature Twin Rocks site. If you would like to consider other placement sites, additional travel/location fees will apply. Please contact us for those additional rates.
*If you are a funeral director or crematorium, please call.