Flowers have accompanied the dead to the sea for as long as humans have conducted sea burials. The instinct is ancient and right — but the open Pacific has specific requirements that a backyard garden or a standard florist arrangement may not meet. Here is what families should know before choosing florals for the ceremony.
Federal regulations prohibit releasing non-biodegradable materials at sea. This means no plastic wrapping, no wire stems, no foam floral foam, no synthetic ribbons. Natural materials — cut flowers, loose petals, untreated wood, natural twine — are all acceptable. The container for flowers and the arrangement itself should be entirely free of plastic or synthetic components.
Anything that cannot go into the water stays aboard. Families who bring flowers with wire stems or plastic wrap can strip those components on deck before the release, or entrust them to the crew to dispose of ashore.
Loose petals scatter wide on the surface and are the most visually striking choice — roses, carnations, and chrysanthemums hold their petals well. Whole blooms float for a time before gradually dispersing. Wreaths woven from natural materials — eucalyptus, willow, fresh flowers without foam backing — float as a unit and are particularly meaningful if the family wants a single visible marker at the release point.
Flowers of Point Loma (flowersofpointloma.biz) specializes in burial-at-sea and paddle-out florals and is the San Diego specialist for this purpose. They understand the biodegradable requirement, the conditions offshore, and the size and scale appropriate for a vessel ceremony. We recommend contacting them two to three weeks before the ceremony date.
White roses and white carnations are the most common. Marigolds carry particular significance in multiple traditions. Bird of paradise, which grows abundantly in San Diego, is striking on the water. Let the flowers be what your family knows. There is no wrong choice — only the ones that meant something to the person you are honoring.