We are vetting licensed captains and vessels in Hilton Head now. Tell us your preferred date and we will contact you as soon as a captain is available, or choose a nearby city with boats today.
Nearby on the Southeast & Mid-Atlantic
What to expect in Hilton Head
Your captain meets your group at the dock, takes you to the scattering spot, and gives you time for words, music, flowers or silence. Afterward, the captain records the coordinates of the scattering so your family always knows where it took place. Biodegradable urns and flowers can be ordered from our memorial store and delivered before your service.
Scattering rules in Hilton Head
Captain license
Not required
Inside Hilton Head waters
Not settled
Calibogue Sound, Port Royal Sound, Broad River, ICW (inside waters); Atlantic Ocean off Hilton Head
Ocean
3+ nautical miles from land
Federal rule. Report to the EPA within 30 days.
Sounds are inside waters with no clear state rule. From Harbour Town or Broad Creek, boats go out Calibogue Sound or Port Royal Sound and then 3 nm beyond land; the Port Royal Sound entrance shoals extend far offshore, so measure carefully on the chart. Up the Broad River near Beaufort: Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island danger zones and Beaufort restricted areas (33 CFR 334.475, 334.480). Beaufort County Coroner issues cremation permits.
Full South Carolina guide: permits, paperwork and sourcesLast checked October 15, 2026. A summary, not legal advice.