This walks you through the experience from a family’s perspective-from the evening before departure to the moment the vessel returns-so you can picture each step and feel confident that, with an experienced team, the process is smooth, respectful and profoundly meaningful.
The Evening Before | Gathering, Remembering, Preparing
Memorial Dinner
Because only a small group can sail, we can arrange a relaxed dinner in Portland for the wider family if desired. Over local produce and gentle conversation, families often:
- Share stories, photos and music.
- Invite guests to write messages on biodegradable paper to be released at sea.
- Brief the sailing party on the next day’s timings, weather and safety tips.
Families tell us this dinner sets a comforting tone everyone feels included, even those who will stay ashore.
Departure Morning | Early Light & Quiet Anticipation
- As daybreak approaches, while the family makes their way to the wharf, the Candour team has already risen early, secured the person in our care safely on the stern cradle and completed all final checks.
- We welcome you wharf‑side with a warm coffee or tea, offering a few quiet moments to breathe, share memories and watch the first light shimmer on the water.
- Those joining the voyage step aboard to stow bags and settle in, while relatives remaining on shore spend unhurried time together beside the vessel.
- With gentle guidance from our crew, sailing family members take their places; loved ones ashore offer a last embrace and wave farewell as the boat eases away, assured that every detail is in expert hands.
Family insight: “Watching the crew guide Dad aboard with such care gave us immediate peace of mind.”
Life On Board | Beauty, Motion & Practical Comforts
A full‑day charter means 8–10 hours at sea. Even on a calm forecast the boat can pitch and roll. We prepare you by:
- Providing seasickness tablets, ginger lollies and electrolyte drinks.
- Supplying breakfast and lunch boxes made by our Mornington Peninsula caterer.
- Stocking extra jackets, sunscreen and blankets.
Pods of dolphins, wandering albatrosses and an endless horizon create moments of pure wonder-balanced by the practical reality that open‑ocean travel can be chilly and tiring. Most families alternate between quiet reflection, shared stories and simply gazing at the water.
The Committal | A Still Point in a Vast Expanse
After approximately four hours of travel (weather permitting), engines throttle back and the sea often feels surprisingly calm. As the boat settles into stillness and the ocean stretches quietly to every horizon, the Candour team gently prepares the person being honoured for their final journey. We guide the shroud‑bearer carefully to the edge until their feet hover over open water. With steady, reverent hands, the headend is lifted, allowing them to slip peacefully into the deep, embraced by the sea.
In this sacred moment, each family member steps forward to place a single rose on the surface - a personal tribute to their bond. Loose petals are then scattered across the water, a beautiful reflection of the many lives touched.
Messages written earlier at the memorial dinner are released, drifting alongside the flowers as they are carried away by gentle currents.
Finally, the vessel traces a slow, respectful circle around the resting place - a guard of honour - before beginning the quiet journey back toward the mainland.
Families describe this moment as “quietly powerful… an honour to witness.”
Environmental Stewardship | Offsetting the Journey
Driving to Portland and powering a charter vessel does generate emissions. At Candour, we believe a farewell to the ocean should tread lightly on the earth. That’s why we partner with Trace - an Australian organisation committed to high-integrity climate action. Trace can measure the full carbon footprint of each sea-burial journey — including vehicle travel, vessel fuel use, and materials like iron ballast - and purchases accredited carbon offsets from projects such as native reforestation, biodiversity protection, and renewable energy initiatives. We can arrange for your journey to be offset too, ensuring that your final voyage remains as green and respectful as the ocean that receives you.
Costs and Inclusions
(from $35,000 as at April 2025)
A full-body sea burial is a highly specialised farewell. To help you plan ahead, our sea burial packages start from $35,000 (pricing correct as at April 2025) and include:
- Professional Service Fee: Coordination of permits, vessel arrangements, preparation and guidance throughout the process.
- Transfer into Care: Bringing you into Candour’s care (Melbourne metropolitan area; contact us for regional costings).
- Federal Sea Burial Permit: Preparation and submission to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
- Experienced On‑Site Staff: Candour staff present over three days to prepare, travel and assist with all aspects of the sea burial.
- Hearse Use: Secure, dignified transportation of the person in our care (including three days for preparation and travel).
- Staff Accommodation and Meals: Covered to ensure the team remains rested, present and focused solely on supporting you.
- Specialised Care and Preparation: Meeting the strict non-embalming requirements of a federal sea burial.
- Natural Bamboo Fleece Shroud: All-natural materials suitable for ocean committal.
- Full-Day Vessel Charter: Private use of a licensed charter vessel to reach the continental shelf.
- Death Certificate Package: Standard official documentation included.
- Catering On Board: Breakfast, refreshments, and lunch for sailing family members to provide comfort throughout the day.
Candour’s guidance ensures every detail from federal permits to the final petal placed on the water is handled with utmost care, so you can focus entirely on what matters most.
Regional Victoria? No Problem
Whether you live in Mildura, Warrnambool or Wodonga, our transfer network can bring the person into Candour’s care. All preparation occurs in our Mornington Peninsula facility before we travel to Portland together. You receive the same seamless guidance, regardless of postcode.
Why Choose Candour for a Sea Burial?
- Proven Experience: The only funeral home to complete a full‑body sea burial in Victoria in more than a decade.
- End‑to‑End Coordination: Permits, vessel, catering, accommodation and (if selected) carbon offsets handled by one team.
- Family‑Centred: We take care of the paperwork behind the scenes, allowing you to focus fully on the experience and the meaningful moments shared throughout the journey.
- Sustainability: All elements-from our natural linen shrouds to our sustainably sourced pine shroud bearers and verified carbon offsets-are standard practices at Candour. These sustainable choices not only align with our environmental values but also meet the strict federal requirements for sea burial permits, ensuring a farewell that is respectful to both the ocean and the earth.
Plan Ahead With Us
Sea burial requires written consent, specific materials and flexible timing. Starting the conversation early ensures everything is ready when the time comes.
Send an online enquiry or phone 1300 788 881 for a no‑obligation chat about how Candour can guide you beyond the shoreline.
Every voyage is different, but the feeling we strive for is always the same: calm hands, open hearts and a farewell as vast as the sea itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sea burial legal in Victoria? Yes, full-body sea burials are legal under strict federal government guidelines. Candour Funeral Services is proud to have successfully completed a sea burial in Victoria-the first in over a decade.
Do I need to pre-plan if I want a sea burial? Yes. Federal permits require written proof of your wishes either stated clearly in your will or through a signed document. We recommend planning ahead to ensure your wishes can be fulfilled.
Is it possible if I live outside of Melbourne? Absolutely. Our team can arrange transfers from anywhere across regional Victoria to bring you into our care and facilitate the journey to Portland.
What happens if the weather is bad? We closely monitor weather conditions and schedule the committal for the earliest suitable day. Families are kept informed and involved every step of the way.
Can you assist with offsetting the environmental impact of the journey? Yes. Candour partners with Trace to calculate and offset the carbon footprint of your journey, including vehicle and vessel emissions.
How many people can attend the burial at sea? Boat capacity is usually limited due to licensing and safety reasons. We can guide you on expected numbers and can assist in organising a wider memorial gathering for those not sailing.
Will we see any wildlife during the journey? Often, yes! Dolphins, seabirds and even whales (depending on the season) are known to appear along the voyage, adding a moving connection to nature during the farewell.
