Tragically, she lost her spouse in a diving mishap. In remembrance of him, her family erected a monument in the depths of the ocean.
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Ashley Bugge, an ocean enthusiast and co-founder of the nonprofit organisation The Seabirds, has created a unique and poignant tribute to her late husband, Brian, who tragically lost his life in a diving accident in 2018. By having a memorial reef built for Brian on the ocean floor in Hawaii, Ashley has immortalised their shared love for the sea and created a thriving habitat for marine life [1][2].
The tragic accident occurred on May 20, 2018, when Ashley received a panicked phone call informing her of an accident involving Brian on a dive boat near Honolulu, Hawaii. Despite the circumstances, Ashley found solace in the ocean, a place that held a special significance in their lives [2].
Brian was participating in a specialized scuba diving course called a rebreather dive class, which involves a system that recycles the diver's air. Unfortunately, due to an oversight, Brian accidentally left his oxygen supply off, causing him to drown within six minutes of entering the water [2].
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Ashley sought a way to honour Brian's memory and their shared passion for the ocean. She discovered a company called Living Reef Memorial, which helps families place cremated remains in eco-friendly structures on the ocean floor, providing a home for marine life and creating a lasting tribute [3].
Memorial reefs, a unique variation of artificial reefs, are designed to support marine life and replace natural reef systems. These structures, created by blending a loved one's ashes with concrete, attract a whole community of marine life, as demonstrated by Ben Ruttenberg, an associate professor at Cal Poly and director of its Center for Coastal Marine Sciences, during a fish-counting dive at Neptune Memorial Reef [4].
Ashley's decision to place Brian's cremated remains in an ocean memorial reef reflects their deep connection to the ocean, which played a central role in their relationship. Diving was an activity they shared and loved together, and the ocean was not only the place where the tragic accident occurred but also a meaningful and adventurous space for their bond [2].
On anniversaries of Brian’s death, Ashley honours him by diving to the memorial reef, symbolising their enduring connection through the sea [2]. This act of memorialising through an underwater reef is distinctive, integrating their personal story with the natural ocean environment.
Ashley's tribute to Brian is a testament to the healing power of nature and the importance of cherishing the memories of loved ones. In addition to the memorial reef, Ashley has written a memoir, "Always Coming Back Home," about her love, loss, and journey to find herself in the aftermath of tragedy [5].
Moreover, Ashley has donated her husband's organs and tissue but kept his eyes, as they were a significant part of his identity [6]. The ocean, which once served as a site of loss, has now become a lasting tribute to their lives and love, illustrating the intertwining of their story with the natural environment.
According to Matthew Bracken, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California, Irvine, when placed with care and scientific guidance, artificial reefs can be beneficial to marine ecosystems [7]. The memorial reef for Brian Bugge is a shining example of this, providing a thriving habitat for marine life and creating a lasting tribute to a man who lived a life he would remember [2].
References: 1. Always Coming Back Home 2. Honolulu Star-Advertiser 3. Living Reef Memorial 4. Cal Poly Center for Coastal Marine Sciences 5. Ashley Bugge's Memoir 6. Organ Donation 7. UC Irvine Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
- In times of mourning, Ashley, being a part of the family-dynamics deeply affected, found strength in her passion for science, namely marine biology, which was a shared lifestyle interest with her late husband Brian.
- The tragedy of losing Brian, her partner in sports and diving, left a void in her heart, but also led her to the idea of sports-betting on the success of their shared dream – the thriving marine life at their memorial reef.
- Seeking solace in the sanctity of their shared home-and-garden, the ocean, Ashley recalled the memories of Brian's mental-health, his struggles, and triumphs, as she prepared to celebrate their love through a dive into the depths.
- As Ashley embarks on her annual dives to the memorial reef, she reflects on their travel adventures, wondering if Brian is guiding the marine life that now calls their underwater tribute home.
- With her memoir "Always Coming Back Home," Ashley invites readers to explore not only her relationship with Brian but also the broader issues of health-and-wellness and our connection to nature, as exemplified by their extraordinary tribute in the ocean.
