Dive Community Reacts to Tragedy Aboard Conception Dive Boat in California
A boat fire that killed at least 20 people on a dive trip off Southern California has left the scuba diving community in shock and mourning.
The M/V Conception liveaboard caught fire and sank in the early hours of Monday morning off the Channel Islands, according to the LA Times. The 75-foot boat left Santa Barbara Harbor on Saturday with 39 people aboard.
The U.S. Coast Guard reportedly received a distress call Monday at around 3:15 a.m., so most of Conception's passengers were likely asleep in their bunks when the fire broke out. The only known survivors are five crewmembers who were above deck and able to escape overboard. Rescuers have suspended their search for the 14 still unaccounted for, according to the Times.
Authorities have not yet indicated what might have caused the fire aboard M/V Conception.
Members of the global dive community took to social media to offer condolences and memories. See some of the reaction below:
