Steinlöwe meets Mermaid.

Three miles from Key Biscayne is America's most unusual underwater attraction: the cemetery Neptune Memorial Reef. Photographer Todd Essick uses mystical mood between sculptures and tombs for his models to pose - as mermaids.

 

"Come on, Honey, let's go!" Todd Essick driving his Model Elaine to hurry. The photographer with the eternal Ray-Ban sunglasses on his nose that goes with the hand erratic by the brown hair and looks to the wristwatch: The time is pressing, Essick want the images in the box, before the sun is too low.

The aim of the boat trips is the end of 2007 opened Neptune Memorial Reef before Key Biscayne. There is the beauty of semi-submerged between sculptures and tombs in Pose throw. Tasteless find the one for Essick as one of the best photographers in the world, it is art, and that he did not want to discuss. What he wants, or photos for a calendar and a book, he has not time to give away.

In twelve feet deep, in between the stone lions and almost to the water surface emerging pillars, lies down to Elaine stuff. It hovers over sculptures, winds around the gates and tries, despite the absence of air really relaxed. Every 30 seconds, a helper and lets them out of the lung machine to breathe, she appeared in between, in order to move the boat.

Under water model is not an easy job? the salt burns in the eyes, the skin is different, and constantly attracts one of the buoyancy of the body to the surface. Even the photographer has been difficult: Sometimes the light does not fit, then suspended particles in water, fish, or a push in the worst moment between the object and photo lens.

Space for 100,000 graves

The underwater cemetery in Florida is the brainchild of Gary Levine and Kim Brendall, an artist and a designer, and he could have for the two to develop printing money. Over 50 tombs in the depths have already been sold, at prices up to $ 6700. The first customer was Bert Kilbridge, a diver, in March 2008 at the age of 93 years died. His son said his father would feel honored, because it is life with the sea felt.

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At nearly six hectares of land will be space for a total of over 100,000 deaths arise. Sometimes they are buried in urns, sometimes on their ashes with the concrete mixed for new sculptures. According to the operators "Neptune Society" is not only a place of remembrance arise, but also the largest artificial reef in the world? the dead as part of a new ecosystem.

Levine and Brendall had initially not easy to have a permit for their project to get. Meanwhile, however, is the recreation Atlantis underwater cemetery as attractive to the different target groups: biologists can create an artificial reef to document what ideal coral reef fish living conditions and offers protection from fishermen.

Environmentalists support the Neptune Memorial Park, tourism agencies and diving schools are pleased with the new attractions. Even the sport divers are thrilled: Hardly any other diving spot exudes such a mystique and tranquility. Over 30 species have already located, the first colorful parrot fish chewing on the vegetation of the sculptures, while silver shiny barracuda between the pillars of prey lurking.

Lobster and fish suitcase on artificial reef

Under the water the diver floats by two brass gates, which are flanked bronze lions. A aufgeschreckter boxfish studied with frantic movements of his little flippers the width. The road leads to pillars and vaults over to the central square of the area, from the out in the final stages of construction as eight spokes in a wheel to the outer circle of the Memorial lead.

Even now the area attracts many, mostly small fish, under the stones the first stretch Hummer up their probe. Their capture is not allowed, the entire area is declared protected in the fishing, hunting and fishing is banned.

Jerry Normann, President of the "Neptune Society, said: The Reef" will be a beneficiary living in the sea to create. With the help of nature and time, this underwater memorial site a reef with colorful marine life and coral growth, which provides the security, the memory of the deceased for all time to preserve. "

The last dive of the photographer

Todd Essick meanwhile, has very different problems. Again and again pushes a cloud before the sun, the light rays do not penetrate into the sea and let it not transparent enough. But ultimately, the pro lucky: One hour of good vision him to the pictures in the box to get.

There are dreamy, surreal images full of mysticism, where the model "like a mermaid on the deceased monitored." Essick said that on their return is significantly more relaxed and also can imagine, once even to be buried. "As a diver, photographer and environmentalist I like the idea that there is now a further opportunity to dive the last election. The special atmosphere of this place is just fascinating."

Just over a year after the opening of the underwater cemetery is already the most popular diving spot off the coast of Key Biscayne. But not only sport divers and biologists will benefit from the project, even for members of a funeral in the Neptune Memorial Reef very practical benefits: The grave is, and during visits must also be brought no flowers? only a diving license, they should already possess.