The Neptune Memorial Reef lies in a special management zone. The reef stretches across 16 acres (65,000 m 2) of ocean floor designed as both a home for sea life and "a destination for divers". During the permitting process, Hurricane Andrew, a category 5 hurricane swept through, requiring a re-engineering of the Reef. One of the construction requirements was that the Memorial Reef be built to withstand the strongest storm in the last 100 years. After an extensive evaluation and permitting process, the Atlantis Reef Project has been permitted by the EPA, DERM, NOAA, Florida Fish and Wildlife, and the Army Corps of Engineers. The man-made reef, located three miles (5 km) off the coast of Florida's Key Biscayne, opened in 2007 after a number of difficulties, including permits. The Reef is more correctly identified as a cremation memorial site. Cremated remains are mixed with cement to form features of the Reef, and memorial plaques are added. Though often referred to in news articles as an underwater mausoleum or underwater cemetery, the Neptune Society Memorial Reef meets the criterion for neither. It is a type of burial at sea and the first phase is estimated to be able to accommodate 850 remains, with an eventual goal of more than 125,000 remains. The place was chosen at 3.25 miles (5.2 km) off the coast of Key Biscayne, Florida. The city design involves underwater roads leading to a central feature with benches and statuary. It was originally conceived by Gary Levine and designed by artist Kim Brandell and known as the Atlantis Reef Project or the Atlantis Reef As of 2012, the Reef occupies a one-half-acre (0.20 ha) space, but a planned expansion 16 acres (6.5 ha) is underway. The Neptune Memorial Reef is an underwater columbarium in what was conceived by the creator as the world's largest man-made reef (covering over 600,000 square feet (56,000 m 2) of ocean floor) at a depth of 40 feet (12 m) ). ![]() The Neptune Memorial Reef's underwater gates.
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