Shallow Gulf water is fine for ashes - EPA sets no depth rule for cremated remains, only the 3 nm distance from land (barrier islands count as land). From Clearwater Beach marina it is roughly 1 nm out Clearwater Pass then 3 nm offshore - about 4-5 nm total (estimate; check your chart). Clearwater Harbor and the Intracoastal are inside water with no clear state rule.

Run out Port Canaveral and go 3 nm off the beach - roughly 4-6 nm from the port (estimate). The Banana River and Indian River Lagoon are inside water (brackish lagoon; state says no ashes in fresh water - saltwater/brackish status unclear). Watch for Coast Guard safety zones and closures around Port Canaveral and rocket launches from Cape Canaveral/Kennedy Space Center. Whole-body burials off east-central Florida need 1,800 ft depth (not an issue for ashes).

From Daytona Beach marinas it is about 10 nm south down the Halifax River to Ponce de Leon Inlet, then 3 nm offshore (estimate). Halifax River/Intracoastal is inside water - no clear state rule.

Shallow Gulf water is fine for ashes - EPA sets no depth rule for cremated remains, only the 3 nm distance from land (barrier islands count as land). From Destin Harbor it is under 1 nm to East Pass, then 3 nm offshore - about 4 nm total (estimate). Choctawhatchee Bay is inside water - no clear state rule. Offshore military warning areas (Eglin AFB) exist; check notices to mariners.

3 nm is a short run - roughly 3-4 nm from Port Everglades Inlet (estimate). Port Everglades has Coast Guard security zones around cruise ships and tankers; do not linger or scatter near them. Intracoastal and New River are inside water - no clear state rule.

Shallow Gulf water is fine for ashes - EPA sets no depth rule for cremated remains, only the 3 nm distance from land (barrier islands count as land). From downtown Fort Myers it is roughly 15 nm down the Caloosahatchee to San Carlos Bay plus 3 nm offshore - about 18-20 nm (estimate). From Fort Myers Beach/Matanzas Pass it is about 4 nm. The Caloosahatchee upstream of the Franklin Lock is fresh water (state says no ashes in fresh water); lower river and bays are inside water with no clear rule.

Shallow Gulf water is fine for ashes - EPA sets no depth rule for cremated remains, only the 3 nm distance from land (barrier islands count as land). Holmes Beach sits on the Gulf; from bay-side marinas you exit via Longboat Pass or around the north end at Passage Key Inlet, then 3 nm off Anna Maria Island - roughly 5-8 nm total (estimate). Anna Maria Sound/Tampa Bay are inside water - no clear state rule.

Almost all water around the Keys out past 3 nm is inside the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The sanctuary bans dumping 'any material' from inside its boundary, and ash scattering is not one of the exceptions, so you need a free-to-apply NOAA sanctuary cremation permit (online form at floridakeys.noaa.gov/permits/special-use.html). NOAA only permits ceremonies at least 3 nm from shore, in federal sanctuary waters; only ashes and flowers - no urns, boxes or plaques. Stay out of Sanctuary Preservation Areas and Ecological Reserves, where only engine cooling water and exhaust may be discharged. Use the Atlantic side: 3 nm off Islamorada is near or past the reef line (estimate - check chart for Alligator Reef and other preservation areas). Florida Bay (Gulf side) is shallow, inside the sanctuary/Everglades area and not covered by NOAA's 3 nm permit practice.

From downtown Jacksonville it is roughly 20 nm down the St. Johns River to the jetties at Mayport, then 3 nm offshore (estimate); from Mayport-area marinas about 4-5 nm. Naval Station Mayport and the Port of Jacksonville have Coast Guard security zones near the river mouth. The St. Johns becomes fresh water upstream (state says no ashes in fresh water); the lower river is brackish inside water with no clear rule.

Biscayne National Park starts just south of Key Biscayne and covers southern Biscayne Bay and ocean water off it. Inside the park, ash scattering needs a National Park Service Special Park Use Permit (apply by mail, at least 15 business days ahead; BISC_Permits@nps.gov, 786-335-3620), must be at least 3 nm from land, and paid boat operators in the park need a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA). Going straight east off Key Biscayne to 3 nm (about 3-4 nm from Cape Florida, estimate) may keep you north of the park - check the park boundary on your chart. Northern Biscayne Bay (outside the park) is inside water with no clear state rule.

Almost all water around the Keys out past 3 nm is inside the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The sanctuary bans dumping 'any material' from inside its boundary, and ash scattering is not one of the exceptions, so you need a free-to-apply NOAA sanctuary cremation permit (online form at floridakeys.noaa.gov/permits/special-use.html). NOAA only permits ceremonies at least 3 nm from shore, in federal sanctuary waters; only ashes and flowers - no urns, boxes or plaques. Stay out of Sanctuary Preservation Areas and Ecological Reserves, where only engine cooling water and exhaust may be discharged. Atlantic side 3 nm off Key Largo is near the reef tract; avoid preservation areas such as Molasses, French, Grecian Rocks, Key Largo Dry Rocks and Carysfort (check chart). John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park covers nearshore Atlantic water off Key Largo - state park rules on scattering were not confirmed.

Almost all water around the Keys out past 3 nm is inside the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The sanctuary bans dumping 'any material' from inside its boundary, and ash scattering is not one of the exceptions, so you need a free-to-apply NOAA sanctuary cremation permit (online form at floridakeys.noaa.gov/permits/special-use.html). NOAA only permits ceremonies at least 3 nm from shore, in federal sanctuary waters; only ashes and flowers - no urns, boxes or plaques. Stay out of Sanctuary Preservation Areas and Ecological Reserves, where only engine cooling water and exhaust may be discharged. Atlantic side 3 nm off Key West is near the reef line (estimate); avoid Sand Key, Rock Key, Eastern Dry Rocks preservation areas and the Western Sambo Ecological Reserve. Key West Harbor has Navy (NAS Key West) and cruise-ship security zones. Gulf-side state waters extend 9 nm, so NOAA's 'federal waters only' wording may mean much farther out on the Gulf side - use the Atlantic side.

Almost all water around the Keys out past 3 nm is inside the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The sanctuary bans dumping 'any material' from inside its boundary, and ash scattering is not one of the exceptions, so you need a free-to-apply NOAA sanctuary cremation permit (online form at floridakeys.noaa.gov/permits/special-use.html). NOAA only permits ceremonies at least 3 nm from shore, in federal sanctuary waters; only ashes and flowers - no urns, boxes or plaques. Stay out of Sanctuary Preservation Areas and Ecological Reserves, where only engine cooling water and exhaust may be discharged. Atlantic side 3 nm off Marathon is near Sombrero Key (a Sanctuary Preservation Area - avoid it); check chart.

From Government Cut it is about 3-4 nm to reach 3 nm offshore (estimate). PortMiami has Coast Guard security zones around cruise ships. Southern Biscayne Bay is inside Biscayne National Park - scattering there needs an NPS permit and must be 3 nm from land, so in practice not in the bay. Northern Biscayne Bay is inside water with no clear state rule; the Miami River is inside water too.

Shallow Gulf water is fine for ashes - EPA sets no depth rule for cremated remains, only the 3 nm distance from land (barrier islands count as land). From Naples Bay marinas it is about 1 nm out Gordon Pass then 3 nm offshore - roughly 4 nm (estimate). Naples Bay is inside water - no clear state rule.

The Gulf Stream runs close here; 3 nm is about 3-4 nm from Palm Beach Inlet (estimate). Lake Worth Lagoon is inside water - no clear state rule. The Coast Guard sets temporary security zones in Lake Worth Lagoon near Mar-a-Lago when the President is there, and the Port of Palm Beach has its own zones.

Shallow Gulf water is fine for ashes - EPA sets no depth rule for cremated remains, only the 3 nm distance from land (barrier islands count as land). From Palmetto it is about 10-12 nm down the Manatee River and across lower Tampa Bay to Passage Key Inlet or Southwest Channel, then 3 nm off Anna Maria/Egmont Key - roughly 15-20 nm total (estimate). Tampa Bay and the Manatee River are inside water (inside the bay closing line, so the EPA ocean permit does not cover them) - no clear state rule.

Shallow Gulf water is fine for ashes - EPA sets no depth rule for cremated remains, only the 3 nm distance from land (barrier islands count as land). From downtown Panama City marinas it is about 7-8 nm through St. Andrew Bay to St. Andrew Pass, then 3 nm offshore - roughly 10-11 nm (estimate). Tyndall AFB and Naval Support Activity Panama City have restricted areas and offshore military warning areas; check notices to mariners. St. Andrew Bay is inside water - no clear state rule.

Shallow Gulf water is fine for ashes - EPA sets no depth rule for cremated remains, only the 3 nm distance from land (barrier islands count as land). From downtown Pensacola it is about 8-10 nm across Pensacola Bay to Pensacola Pass, then 3 nm offshore - roughly 11-13 nm (estimate). NAS Pensacola has security zones at the pass/bay. Whole-body burials west of Pensacola need 1,800 ft depth (not an issue for ashes). Pensacola Bay is inside water - no clear state rule.

Shallow Gulf water is fine for ashes - EPA sets no depth rule for cremated remains, only the 3 nm distance from land (barrier islands count as land). Safety Harbor is at the top of Old Tampa Bay: roughly 30-35 nm by water to the mouth of Tampa Bay plus 3 nm offshore (estimate). Many operators instead trailer or depart from Clearwater (about 4-5 nm to 3 nm offshore). Old Tampa Bay is inside water - no clear state rule.

Shallow Gulf water is fine for ashes - EPA sets no depth rule for cremated remains, only the 3 nm distance from land (barrier islands count as land). From downtown Sarasota marinas it is about 2 nm to New Pass or Big Pass, then 3 nm offshore - roughly 5 nm (estimate). Sarasota Bay is inside water - no clear state rule.

Shallow Gulf water is fine for ashes - EPA sets no depth rule for cremated remains, only the 3 nm distance from land (barrier islands count as land). From downtown St. Pete it is about 18-20 nm down Tampa Bay to the mouth plus 3 nm offshore (estimate). From the beach side (Pass-a-Grille, John's Pass) it is only about 4 nm. Tampa Bay and Boca Ciega Bay are inside water - no clear state rule. Tampa Bay ship channel and Port Tampa Bay have Coast Guard security zones.

Shallow Gulf water is fine for ashes - EPA sets no depth rule for cremated remains, only the 3 nm distance from land (barrier islands count as land). From downtown Tampa it is roughly 30-35 nm down Hillsborough Bay and Tampa Bay to the mouth past Egmont Key, plus 3 nm offshore (estimate) - a long run; many families instead go out of St. Pete Beach or Clearwater. Tampa Bay is inside the bay closing line, so it is NOT 'ocean' under the EPA permit and no clear state rule covers scattering there. Port Tampa Bay and MacDill AFB have Coast Guard security/restricted zones.