An experienced diver from China has earned praise on mainland social media for his thoughtful actions.
The man, surnamed You, from Shandong province in the east of the country, discovered 11 sealed urns underwater, each tied with a brightly coloured ribbon, which seemed to be part of a sea burial.
He believed the urns, which were located in shallow water close to the shore, were at risk of exposure at low tide.
The diver was also concerned that less experienced divers visiting the area at night, might be spooked by the sight, which could potentially cause an accident.
You carefully relocated the urns to a deeper trench that allowed them to be gradually buried by the seabed sediment.
He was assisting in anchoring a boat that day.
As a diving coach and public emergency rescue team volunteer, he has plenty of experience in dealing with maritime emergencies and clearing marine debris.
The video documenting You’s thoughtful act quickly went viral on mainland social media.
Online observers noted that the scene “resembled something out of a horror movie” and praised his kindness.
There was also curiosity about the contents of the urns and some people speculated they were used for sea burials.
As cemetery spaces dwindle because of increasing urbanisation and an ageing population, sea burials are becoming more common in China.
The change is ongoing despite its clash with traditional Chinese culture that worships ancestors, and in which a land burial with a tombstone is considered most appropriate.
While a traditional gravesite can cost more than 100,000 yuan (US$14,000), private sea burials are much cheaper at about 10,000 yuan.
The government is also promoting sea burials by offering financial incentives.
Others opt for it from a desire to conserve land or for their love of the ocean, Beijing News reported.
Typically, the deceased’s ashes are placed in biodegradable urns made of clay and marine mud, which dissolve within 24 hours, according to Economic View.
Some other online observers suggested that the sealed urns might be “Dragon King vases”, including herbs, spices and treasures as offerings to the mythological Chinese water and weather god.
Such vases are traditionally placed in bodies of water by Buddhists, as a blessing for favourable weather and good health.
