Gold Coast proposes underwater cemetery to help drive tourism

A newfangled idea to create an underwater cemetery could see people diving to the depths of the ocean to visit their loved ones burial sites off the coast of Queensland.

While the usual options include being buried under ground or having your ashes spread in some place meaningful, a bizarre yet creative plan by the Gold Coast City Council is hoped to increase tourism and create a fun way for people to remember their loved ones.

Based on the Neptune Memorial Reef in Florida, Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate told Channel 7, the ocean-bed cemetery would help to combat the overcrowding of regular cemeteries in an environmentally friendly way by mixing ashes with materials, the ABC reports.

“Major cities in Australia and the world are running out of spaces to bury people,” Tate said. “In time to come, if people want to dive, say hello, they can do so and have a bit of fun with it.”

The plan is to position the precinct about 2 nautical miles off the coast line near a proposed underwater dive pyramid with Gold Coast councillor Dawn Crichlow also supporting the idea.

“Water’s very peaceful – look how many people scatter ashes on the Broadwater on in the ocean – people love that,” she said.

Read more: Hilarious Kiwis create ‘coffin club’ to beat pricy funerals

The underwater pitch is the latest in a series of creative burial options popping up around the world in recent years, with many taking a fun approach to the end of life instead of basking in the sadness of death.

Earlier this year a New Zealand based Coffin Club sprung to fame for its creative way of preparing for the end of life with members designing their own coffins.

Read more: Funeral home launches drive-thru service to stop families being ‘spooked out’

The inventive alternative to usually pricy coffins is used as a bonding experience for retirees who want to be remembered for their joyous lives.

Meanwhile in the United States a funeral home recently launched a drive-thru service, giving people the option to simply drive past a window where their loved one lay at rest in a coffin.

What do you think of the idea of being buried at sea? How would you like to be laid to rest?