Welcome to Reef Builders International, Corp.
Gary Levine, visionary president of Reef Builders International, whose innovative approach has made the Memorial Reef a standard legacy for post-cremation remains, is at the very heart of the groundbreaking concepts for new and needed alternatives to traditional burial practices.
As a recognized leader in the field, Reef Builders International combines imagination, creativity, art, and design with sustainable ecological solutions to craft meaningful memorials honoring our loved ones while creating memories and benefiting the environment at the same time. The result is our Memorial Service ocean experience where “Resting in Peace” occurs from Life to Legacy after cremation—offering Reverence, Recognition, and Respect to the dearly departed for a life in the ocean.
Our enthusiastic team and partners prioritize environmental sustainability and stewardship in every aspect of our projects, ensuring that each memorial makes a lasting and positive contribution to ocean health.
We invite you to honor your loved one with a unique tribute at the Poseidon Memorial Reef. Choosing Reef Builders International means selecting a future where memorialization meets ecological responsibility while creating a legacy in a place of Reverence, Recognition, and Respect for the departed.
Follow us through The Atlantis Reef Project, Poseidon Memorial Reef, Ocean Legacies, Reefs for Oceans, and Memorial Reefs Direct—Reef Builders defines our mission and the current and ultimate concept of Memorial Reefs Direct.
Large Installations
1989 Powell River, BC – “The Emerald Princess” – nine foot (3m) bronze mermaid placed 60 feet underwater for scuba tourism and environmental awareness.
Commissioned by DIVE BC – View In Website
2000 Grand Cayman, BWI – “Amphitrite” – nine foot (3m) bronze mermaid placed 50 feet underwater for scuba tourism and environmental awareness.
Commissioned by Sunset House Resort – View In Website
2003 Georgetown, Grand Cayman, BWI – “Tradition” – two life size figures unveiled by His Royal Highness, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, on the Quintecentennial Anniversary of the discovery of the Cayman Islands by Columbus, in memoriam to the nearly 500 Caymanian souls lost at sea recorded since 1792.
Commissioned by The Caymanian Mariners’ Memorial Society, Bob Soto, CBE. – View In Website
2006 Vancouver, British Columbia – “Henry Larsen” – Life size figure of RCMP Sgt. Henry Larsen, master of the RCMP Vessel St. Roch during the crossing of the North-West Passage, 1942-44
Commissioned by The Vancouver Maritime Museum. Installed and unveiled on the Port foredeck of the RCMP Vessel St. Roch in July, 2006 – View In Website
2014 Grand Cayman BWI – “The Guardian of the Reef” – 13 foot tall mythical figure, half man half seahorse installed in 70 feet of water at Divetech, in West Bay to promote environmental awareness. Funds raised by divers’ donations to support activities of the “West Bay Warriors”, a group formed to educate at-risk Caymanian youth in the value of the marine environment.
Commissioned by Divetech – View In Website
Sculptural Awards
| 1992 Toronto | Underwater Canada presents “Ocean Flight” to Douglas Rosser as recipient of the Canadian National Underwater Achievement Award. |
| 1996 Vancouver | Underwater Society of British Columbia presents “Solitude” to Jim Willoughby as the inaugural recipient of the “Ocean Pioneer Award”. |
| 2000 Vancouver | Underwater Society of British Columbia presents “Solitude” to Dr. Phil Nyutten as the second recipient of the “Ocean Pioneer Award”. |
| 2004 Vancouver | Underwater Society of British Columbia presents “Solitude” to Dr. Michael Lepawski, Director, Vancouver Hyperbaric Medicine, as the third recipient of the “Ocean Pioneer Award”. |
| 2004 Vancouver | Canadian Association of Freediving and Apnea (CAFA) presents “Apnea” to winner of the Association for the International Development of Apnea (AIDA) World Free Diving Championships held in Vancouver, August 2004. |
Societies
Royal Canadian Geographic Society – October, 2021 Inducted as Member, College of Fellows
Artists For Conservation Foundation – Signature Member, February 2020
Ocean Artists Society, October, 2003 Orlando, Florida – Inducted as an inaugural member
Arts & Cultural Highway of British Columbia – Member
Oceans 2000 – Member (a group of leadership level sponsors of the Ocean Futures Foundation)
Shows by Invitation:
| 2001 | DEMA Show New Orleans – Featured Artist (Diving Equipment and Marketing Association) |
| 2001 | 28th World Festival of Underwater Pictures at Antibes-Juan-Les-Pins, France Invited & displayed as Representative of Canadian Marine Art |
| 2002 | Our World Underwater Chicago – Artist and Featured Speaker |
| 2002 | DEMA Show Las Vegas – Featured Artist with Wyland |
| 2002 | Comox Underwater Film Festival – Featured Artist & Master of Ceremonies |
| 2003 | DEMA Show Miami – Featured Artist with Wyland and Ocean Artists Society |
| 2004 | Vancouver Aquarium “Dive 2004” – Featured Artist |
| 2004 | DEMA Show Houston – Featured Artist |
| 2013 | DEMA Show Orlando – for unveiling of “The Guardian of the Reef” |
Awards
| 1990 Toronto | Recipient of Canadian National Underwater Achievement Award, presented by Underwater Canada |
| 1990 Vancouver | Recipient of Appreciation Award presented by SCUBA Diving Association of British Columbia (Both regarding the installation of the Mermaid in Powell River) |
Collections
Represented internationally by corporate & individual collectors in Argentinian Patagonia, Belgium, Canada, England, France, Grand Cayman, Kuwait, Mexico, Taiwan, Thailand, & USA including Hawaii
Professional Association of Underwater Instructors – PADI
Commissioned life-size busts of the founders, John Cronin and Ralph Erickson, installed at PADI Founders’ hall, Santa Anna, California – View In Website
Support for non-profit organizations
Simon has raised funds through the sale, donation and auction of his work for the following organizations:
The Ocean Futures Foundation
PADI PROJECT A.W.A.R.E (Aquatic World Awareness Responsibility Education)
Sea Save Foundation
Marine Life Sanctuaries Society, British Columbia
OceanWise (Vancouver Aquarium)
Cayman Magic Reef Recovery
The Shark Research Institute
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation
The Canadian Cancer Foundation
Artspring (Center for Performing Arts, Saltspring Island, British Columbia)
Media Representation
Simon’s work has been featured in local, national and international media as follows:
BCTV, CITY TV & CTV (Canadian Television Networks)
Base2 Media (ongoing video documentary)
Diver Magazine (Canada)
Diver Magazine (England)
DiverNewsWire
Northwest Dive News Magazine
Oktonyk (”Octopus”) Magazine (Russia)
Rodale’s Scuba Diving Magazine
Skin Diver Magazine
Tauchen (Diving) Magazine (Germany)
The Cayman Compass Newspaper
The New Yorker Magazine
The Undersea Journal Magazine
Vancouver Sun Newspaper
The Atlantis Reef Project
Atlantis Memorial Reef was the beginning—two longtime friends, Gary Levine and Kim Brandell.
Gary Levine, President of Reef Builders International, was the original visionary behind the Atlantis Reef Project concept and the creation of an underwater memorial reef for people who love the oceans. After obtaining the authority to build, Levine called on Kim Brandell to help him create the artistic designs for the project. After the design phase was agreed upon, Kim and his crew began creating the structures for presentation to the ocean—before a merger of interest with the Neptune Society.
Gary Levine and Kim Brandell will forever be the only creators of what is now known as the Neptune Reef. Levine is credited with developing the concept and turning an idea into a reality. Brandell is the artist and sculptor who took the ideas and designs and turned them into concrete structures. Their efforts have left a lasting impact on ocean conservation and the preservation of marine life.
Poseidon Memorial Reef
Poseidon Memorial Reef is the project that answered The Atlantis Reef Project and Neptune Memorial Reef by focusing on innovative habitats for marine life and providing a story for generations about the Life to Legacy memorial experience—with Reverence, Recognition, and Respect for family and friends.
We invite you to honor your loved one with a unique tribute at the Poseidon Memorial Reef. Choosing Reef Builders International means selecting a future where memorialization meets ecological responsibility, and life continues day after day and year after year in an ever-changing living reef.
The Poseidon Memorial Reef is an ecological masterpiece that, over time, will become a vibrant living reef environment. It will be a place of memorial for friends and family members who have passed away, and it also offers the opportunity to pre-plan. Earthly remains of the departed placed within the reef will be “Resting in Peace”—surrounded by an ever-changing landscape of marine life that is alive, healthy, and amazingly colorful.
The Poseidon Memorial Reef is the second underwater memorial project conceived by the founder and President, Gary Levine. Ecologically designed to create a vibrant reef habitat, it also serves as a serene resting place for our loved ones.
The ocean is a stunning realm of life and adventure, offering a myriad of activities such as boating, scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, surfing, skiing, swimming, and more.
For those who cherish the ocean, have worked and played in it, or simply find solace in watching the sun rise or set from the shore, the Poseidon Memorial Reef holds unique and profound significance.
Poseidon Reef Layout (Phases 1, 2, 3, and 4)
Ocean Legacies
"A Tale of Two Cities"
“From Life to Legacy, A Journey of Remembrance”
Ocean Legacies offers unique and heartfelt ways to honor your loved ones at the Poseidon Memorial Reef. This innovative ecological project transforms the process of memorialization into a living tribute, merging remembrance with the beauty and vitality of marine life.
Providing a habitat for a diverse range of marine species, this sanctuary promotes biodiversity and supports the delicate balance of underwater ecosystems. Each memorial serves as a meaningful expression of Recognition, Reverence, and Respect—where the memories of your loved ones thrive in an ocean setting that embodies life and renewal.
We hope you join us to create lasting legacies and cherished memories at Poseidon Memorial Reef. This is where the love for the departed intertwines with the rhythms of the ocean, creating a place of peace, beauty, and connection for generations to come.
Reefs for Oceans
A Commitment to Marine Conservation
Reefs for Oceans is a proud 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the application, preservation, and enhancement of the Poseidon Memorial Reef Habitat Program. Located sixty-five feet (10 fathoms) beneath the waves of the Gulf of America/Mexico off the beautiful Destin Beach, Florida, this innovative underwater project plays a crucial role in creating new marine ecosystems while serving as a heartfelt tribute to those who want to be remembered as part of a memorial reef—with overall ecological benefit.
By supporting Reefs for Oceans, you can help establish an ecologically designed dive site that fosters the growth and restoration of vital marine habitats. Our project is committed to nurturing a vibrant ecosystem that includes a diverse array of marine species such as vibrant corals, resilient sea urchins, colorful sponges, and favorites like grouper, snapper, lobster, and shrimp.
Our Key Initiatives
Essential to the success of this artificial reef project is the Ancient Florida Limestone Coral Boulder. What gift of memory is better than a two-to-three-foot diameter, 1,000-pound Ancient Florida Limestone Boulder?
As supporters of The Limestone Boulder Habitat Areas, we will create stable and sustainable habitats that support a planned diversity of marine life, promoting ecological balance and resilience within our oceans.
The Simon Morris Poseidon Reef Collection – “Icons of the Reef”: We are dedicated to raising funds to expand this distinguished collection, which pays homage to the renowned individuals who have, for many decades, embraced living the ocean’s sounds and beauty for sport and science.
Memorial Reefs Direct
Memorial Reefs Direct is the answer to how to bring everything together with a new idea: Buy direct from the builder or your trusted Family Funeral Home Partner. Same product. Same price.
We have consolidated Poseidon Memorial Reef and Ocean Legacies into Memorial Reefs Direct. This will streamline our services and better serve your family. Though our name has evolved, our core mission remains unchanged: building sustainable marine habitats, saving you money, and honoring your loved one’s legacy.
Memorial Reefs Direct bridges this gap. We provide an ocean memorial with completely transparent pricing. Whether you choose to buy directly from us, the builder, or through your trusted local Family Funeral Home Partner, you get the exact same memorial for the exact same price. Through Memorial Reefs Direct, both The Poseidon Memorial Reef and Ocean Legacies come together to serve you. We are all proud parts of Reef Builders International—connecting the ocean, reefs, legacies, and you.
Memorial Reefs Direct brings together everything a family needs to create a lasting ocean memorial at Poseidon Memorial Reef with a clearer and more personal path forward.
