The Neptune Memorial Reef is a man-made reef located 3.25 miles offshore from Key Biscayne in Miami. It’s an artistic rendition of the Lost City of Atlantis and makes for a different and unforgettable scuba diving experience. The Neptune is an underwater burial site and is a protected sanctuary thriving with marine life.
Some people come to remember and visit their departed loved ones, while others, like us, come to simply dive the site. The Neptune is unique with beautiful arches, pillars and a couple of giant lion sculptures.
We loved swimming through the arches and seeing the barracudas patrolling the sanctuary’s perimeter, almost like self-appointed guardians of this sacred site.
In every direction there is nothing but sand. This draws the sea life to the area and there was an abundance of creatures here for us to see: large schools of grunts and porkfish, huge parrotfish and angelfish, 3-4-foot barracudas, and eels. Plenty of smaller creatures also inhabit the reef: lobsters, crabs, banded shrimp and arrow crabs. Turtles, eagle rays and sharks also visit the site regularly. It’s supposed to be a no-fishing sanctuary, but we did find some lead weights as well as fishing line below, so perhaps not everyone respects this rule.
The Neptune Memorial Reef lies 40 ft below the surface and is good for all levels of scuba divers. Snorkelers and freedivers can also visit the Neptune Memorial Reef.
More about the memorials, creating art out of ashes
After cremation, people’s remains are mixed with cement and then transformed into reef features. Some can choose to be integrated into larger structures or to be shaped into shells, starfish, turtles or stingrays. In addition, a memorial copper plaque indicates the name of the deceased and their life dates.
Those who choose the underwater memorial site as a final resting place become an integral part of the reef creating a haven for countless creatures that adopt the artificial reef as a place of refuge. Through death giving life!