The Parrot Head Reef deployment, originally announced in March, been postponed until 2026. Organizers sited operational and logistical challenges for the reason.
The Parrot Head Reef will be comprised of two sizes of reef balls ranging in size from about 600 to 1,600 pounds with an 8-inch circular bronze plaque, custom designed by each entity which purchases the memorial. The marine area will become a dedicated space for underwater memorials featuring individual reef balls containing plaques paying homage to the original beach lover and ocean advocate. The reef will be located in federal waters outside the sanctuary boundary permitted by Florida’s Monroe County, 10 miles off Key West, Fla., one of Jimmy’s famously favorite and storied cities.
It was to have been launched on the two-year anniversary of Jimmy Buffett’s passing, September 1, 2025. Due to site changes and logistical challenges for individual Parrot Heads in Paradise (PHiP) clubs nationwide, organizers have pushed back and targeted September 1, 2026 for the inauguration of the project.
“Pushing back the launch of the Parrot Head Reef gives all the clubs in our organization a better chance of participating,” said Bill Brehm, national president of Parrot Heads in Paradise. “We’re hearing that many of them want to join in but need some time to partner over the next couple of months. It also gives us more time to generate momentum for this marine conservation cause that was so near and dear to Jimmy’s heart.”
“We want to do this project right and give the highest honor to Jimmy as well as all those who loved him and his music,” said George Frankel, CEO of Eternal Reefs. “Pushing the Parrot Head Reef back to 2026 gives us a longer runway to properly honor the original Parrot Head.”
The Parrot Head Reef will honor music’s beloved Jimmy Buffett, a passionate ocean conservation advocate. The reef will be located in federal waters outside the sanctuary boundary permitted by Florida’s Monroe County, 10 miles off Key West, Fla., one of Jimmy’s famously favorite and storied cities.
A reef ball is a hollow, vented structure created from environmentally friendly, pH-neutral concrete. Because they are vented, ocean currents pass through and fish love to play in them, circling in and out. The majority of weight is at the bottom of a reef ball, so it stays where it’s placed on the ocean floor. Mother Nature loves this material and begins her art project nearly immediately, adding natural marine matter to make it her own in as little as a few weeks.
In positive news Josh Jones, a member of the original Parrot Heads in Paradise club in Atlanta, won the nationwide search to develop a project design that appropriately combined the fun vibe of Parrot Head music with the environmental benefit of this underwater reef project. He is the son of two other inaugural Atlanta club members, Bill and Tracy Jones, and grew up in the club, his parents often bringing him to concerts in his car seat. This early exposure instilled in Josh a love of music and art; he plays the guitar and is a freelance illustrator and designer.
“I am so honored that the reef organizers picked my design; it was a blast to create something bright and bold and fun and funky all at once, including that saltshaker in the sand,” said Jones “I hope the vibe I created just makes everyone feel good and want to participate in this worthwhile project that can only help the ocean that Jimmy loved so well.”
The Parrot Head Reef project is a collaboration between Parrot Heads in Paradise (PHiP), a network of more than 200 social and charitable clubs around the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and Australia, and Eternal Reefs, the Sarasota-based creative environmental memorial non-profit dedicated to placing living legacies that help preserve the marine environment for future generations. Reef Innovations and the Reef Ball Foundation, sister organizations of Eternal Reefs, are also involved.
While anyone may purchase a memorial, pricing preference will be given to PHiP members and clubs. Costs are $2,500 or $3,000 for the two sizes of reefs, each with an 8-inch custom plaque. The memorials will be on display in a Key West park-type location for viewing by individuals and clubs prior to being deployed.
Although Eternal Reefs is an ocean memorialization non-profit that exists primarily to help families create memorials to their loved ones by mixing their cremated remains to form an Eternal Reef, there are no plans currently to incorporate any cremated remains into the reef balls being placed at the dedication of the Parrot Head Reef.
Contact Information: Email PHiP@eternalreefs.com, website https://www.eternalreefs.com/parrot-head-reef/ or phone 888-423-7333.
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