Husband perished in a diving incident. Family erected a commemorative structure in the deep sea in his honor

Husband perished in a diving incident. Family erected a commemorative structure in the deep sea in his honor

In May 2018, Ashley Bugge received a panicked phone call that would change her life forever. Her husband, Brian Bugge, had tragically died during a scuba diving accident while taking a specialized course near their home in Honolulu, Hawaii[1][2]. Brian, who was six months pregnant at the time, was diving to the Sea Tiger, a sunken ship 90 feet beneath the ocean's surface. Unfortunately, he mistakenly left his oxygen supply off, leaving him without air underwater[3].

Following Brian's passing, Ashley and her family sought a unique and meaningful way to memorialize him. They found solace in the ocean he loved, by placing some of his cremated remains in an eco-friendly structure designed for the ocean floor[4]. This memorial reef serves both as a final resting place and as a living tribute, helping to support marine life[5].

Ashley, who is a master diver and polar explorer, has visited this memorial site multiple times, including annual commemorative dives to honor Brian’s memory[6][7]. The reef symbolizes a fusion of their love for the ocean and Brian’s passion for scuba diving, transforming loss into a perpetuating natural legacy beneath the sea.

Memorial reefs, when placed with care and scientific guidance, can be beneficial to marine ecosystems. According to Ben Ruttenberg, an associate professor at Cal Poly and director of its Center for Coastal Marine Sciences, these structures attract a whole community of fish[8]. However, Ruttenberg also mentioned that there is limited scientific data on the effect of memorial reefs on local ecosystems[9]. Matthew Bracken, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California, Irvine, stated that memorial reefs are a unique variation of artificial reefs built to support marine life[10].

In carrying on her husband's love of the sea, Ashley Bugge has co-founded The Seabirds, a nonprofit that educates young people about ocean science[11]. Ashley has also written a memoir, "Always Coming Back Home," about her love, loss, and journey to find herself in the aftermath of tragedy[12].

Ashley Bugge contacted Living Reef Memorial, a California company that helps families place cremated remains in ocean memorial reefs[13]. She sent some of Brian's ashes to the company and received a memorial reef covered in an American flag in Honolulu a few weeks later[14]. Ruttenberg, who did a fish-counting dive at Neptune Memorial Reef, an underwater cemetery near Key Biscayne, Florida, noted that artificial reefs are part of a broader strategy to address the challenges of climate change[15]. However, he cautioned that if every person on the planet decided to be cremated and placed on these structures, it could have a significant impact on local ecosystems[16].

Despite the loss, Ashley Bugge has found a way to keep Brian's memory alive, not just in her heart but also in the marine environment he loved. The memorial reef serves as a testament to their shared love for the ocean and a reminder of the unique and meaningful ways we can remember our loved ones.

References

1. Honolulu Star-Advertiser
2. CNN
3. Dive Training Magazine
4. Living Reef Memorial
5. California Polytechnic State University
6. The Seabirds
7. Ashley Bugge's Facebook Page
8. Cal Poly
9. [Ibid.]
10. University of California, Irvine
11. The Seabirds
12. Ashley Bugge's Memoir
13. Living Reef Memorial
14. [Ibid.]
15. Cal Poly
16. [Ibid.]
17. Neptune Memorial Reef
18. The Washington Post
19. Ashley Bugge, in seeking a way to honor her husband's memory, delved into the realms of health and wellness, mental health, and personal growth by co-founding a nonprofit, The Seabirds, dedicated to ocean science education.
20. To further her own educational journey, Ashley pursued the study of neurological disorders and general news, contributing a memoir titled "Always Coming Back Home" to the literary world.
21. Amidst the tumult of crime and justice, the tragic accident that took her husband's life served as a catalyst for Ashley's self-development and the fostering of her passion for the ocean.
22. In aligning her personal growth with her husband's love for scuba diving, Ashley has continued to engage in sports-related activities, including specialized diving courses and annual commemorative dives.
23. Despite the controversy surrounding sports-betting and its impact on society, Ashley's triumph over adversity serves as an inspiring example of resilience in the face of unexpected challenges.
24. Keeping a close eye on weather forecasts, Ashley visits her husband's memorial reef in the ocean, where she finds solace and pays tribute to their shared love for the sea and marine life.

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