What Lies At 25 Degrees 41.412 Minutes North And 080 Degrees 05.455 Minutes West?

"And we sail and we sail and we never see land, just the rum in the bottle and the pipe in my hand."

So what lies at the location in the post title? Don't bother with Google Maps. Here is the map now.

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That land mass you see labeled "Key Biscayne" is in fact Key Biscayne. Google Maps are fairly accurate. The smaller land mass attached to Key Biscayne by the road is Virginia Key. To the west of Key Biscayne is Biscayne Bay, and to the east you see the arrow pointing to a spot about 3 miles off the beach.

So what is there?
This is what lies there. Well not exactly. What you see is a conception drawing of what could be there. If the plan works out. And what is the plan?

The first underwater cemetery in the USA and possibly the world. It will be called The Neptune Memorial Reef. The master plan calls for an area 16 acres large, with placements for 125,000 people. The Neptune Society is behind it.

The way it works is first you die. This is an important step. Then after you kick the bucket, you are cremated. Then your ashes are mixed into concrete and cast into one of three shapes - a starfish, a coral head, or a shell. A brass plate is attached to the cast form. Then the form is places somewhere on the reef. Depending on where you want to be placed, prices range from around $2 grand to $6 grand.

Phase 1 is already complete. Phase 1 includes the gates, two bronze lions guarding the gate, a welcome center, and some other structure. You can watch a 6 minute underwater video HERE (20 meg quicktime download) or a 60 second 3 meg video HERE.

"Me, they can sew up in me hammock, with a 9 pound shot at me feet, and the last stick through me nose."

The design is that of a spoked wheel, themed to resemble the "lost city of Atlantis".

The depth will range from 30 feet to about 50 feet. Shallow. The water there is clear. The structure will quickly become encrusted with marine growth. Already schools of fish have set up shop. Before anything was placed there the area was just a sand bottom, with few fish.

I think this is a pretty cool idea. Next time I get out on the water I may take a run out there, moor up to a buoy, and jump over the side. Just to see what is there now.