San Francisco, California
No farewell at sea is more iconic than passing beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. From San Francisco Bay, your family sails out the strait where every voyage from this coast has begun, to the deep Pacific beyond.
Sea Services has arranged burials at sea and ash scatterings from San Francisco since 1991. Our U.S. Coast Guard–licensed captains perform every service in full compliance with EPA regulations, a minimum of three nautical miles from shore.
Families who wish to be aboard can plan a private memorial charter — most last 1.5 to 2 hours dock to dock, with quiet time at sea for the ceremony. If your family cannot attend, our Captain’s Service performs a dignified, fully documented unattended scattering, available year-round. Expedited services within 24–48 hours are available for religious timelines, including Hindu ash-scattering traditions.
To plan a burial at sea from San Francisco, call 1-888-404-9880. We’ll help you choose the right vessel and time of day for your family.
Families in the Bay Area also depart from Sausalito and Bodega Bay.
Explore all burial at sea locations in California.
The Service:
Compassionate, Seamless Burial at Sea Services Nationwide
At Sea Services, we partner with carefully vetted captains and crew across the United States to ensure your memorial experience is smooth, respectful, and deeply meaningful. Honor your loved one with a dignified sea burial. We offer compassionate, coast-to-coast services for scattering ashes at sea. With experienced captains and certified vessels, we ensure your loved one’s ashes are scattered at sea with care, legality, and respect.
Our Burial at Sea and Ash Scattering Services include a beautifully crafted biodegradable urn adorned with freeze-dried flowers, along with a personalized memorial certificate mailed to you after the ceremony. Every service is conducted in full compliance with EPA regulations and aboard U.S. Coast Guard-approved vessels, ensuring safety and professionalism at every step.
What to Expect During Your Memorial Charter
Each charter lasts approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, dock to dock. The journey includes:
- 30–45 minutes traveling out to sea
- 30 minutes at a serene location for the ceremony
- 30–45 minutes returning to harbor
Sea Services™ provides professional burial at sea services across the United States. Whether you’re looking for charter boats for scattering ashes, or a peaceful setting to lay your loved one to rest, we’re here to help you plan a meaningful sea burial with dignity.
During your time on the water, you’ll have the space and time to reflect, pray, share stories, and release ashes in a peaceful and private setting. Our experienced captains can help guide the ceremony or offer support as needed, ensuring a respectful and memorable farewell.
Points of Interest:
Golden Gate Bridge A globally recognized engineering landmark, the Golden Gate Bridge spans the famous 1-mile strait between San Francisco and Marin County. When it opened in 1937, it was the world’s longest suspension bridge and remains celebrated for its Art Deco towers, International Orange color, and sweeping vistas. It’s walkable for pedestrians and cyclists, and recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World
Alcatraz Island Once a notorious federal penitentiary, “The Rock” now offers guided and self-guided tours that explore its complex history, including the cells of notorious inmates and the island’s military past. It’s become one of San Francisco’s most compelling and hauntingly beautiful destinations within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area
