Most of the passengers had come from several towns in the San Francisco Bay area to dive among colorful underwater sea life for three days, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said.Of the 39 aboard, 33 passengers and one crew member are presumed dead. Only five people — all crew members — were found alive, and the bodies of 20 people have been recovered off the coast of Santa Cruz Island. Whilethe identities of those on board the Conception have not been released by authorities, here's what we know about a few of them:
Kristy Finstad
A marine biologist who grew up swimming off California's Channel Islands and the owner of a Santa Cruz-based diving company was on board the Conception, her brother said.Kristy Finstad was leading a dive trip on the vessel, Brett Harmeling wrote in a Facebook post.Finstad is the owner of Worldwide Diving Adventures, a local company that chartered the Conception dive boat from Truth Aquatics, business records show.She had "thousands of dives under her belt" and studied marine life in the Tahitian Islands, Costa Rica and Australia, according to her company's website."My mission is to inspire appreciation for our underwater world. I feel incredibly fortunate to be in the service of helping people invest in experiences of a lifetime," she said in her biography.Finstad and her husband had also sailed across the South Pacific "to find new and amazing places" for their clients."Thank You ALL for your unconditional love and support during this incredibly tragic time. My family and I truly appreciate it. No final word on my sister Kristy; however, it is likely she has transitioned to be with the good Lord," Harmeling wrote Tuesday on Facebook.
Allie Kurtz
Allie Kurtz felt most at home diving in the ocean, her mother said. Cherie McDonough flew to California from Cincinnati, Ohio, after she heard about the fire on the Conception diving boat. Her 25-year-old daughter was a passenger on the ship, she said. Kurtz worked for Paramount Pictures for several years but "wanted to follow her dreams of the ocean, the sea, diving," her mother told reporters at a memorial at Santa Barbara Harbor. "She was a go-getter," her mother said. "She loved it here, and she loved the boat. She loved diving," McDonough collapsed to the ground and began to sob when she saw the photo of her daughter at the memorial. There were 34 candles for the 34 people who are presumed dead. The message beneath the photo said: "I love you Allie — and you know I always will. I'll miss you forever."
Scott Chan and his daughter, Kendra Chan
High school physics teacher Raymond "Scott" Chan and his daughter were on board the Conception, Fremont Unified School District spokesman Brian Killgore said. Killgore did not name Chan's daughter, but in a Facebook post, US Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-California, identified her as Kendra.Kendra Chan was a biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, CNN affiliate KRON reported.Scott Chan had been teaching two AP physics classes within the district for the past three years, the district's statement said."Mr. Chan was a beloved teacher at AHS among students and colleagues," the school district said in a statement. "His students knew him to be an innovative and inspiring teacher who developed a passion for physics among his students.""His loss is a tremendous tragedy for our school district."
Five members of a family
Five members of a Stockton, California, family were aboard the boat celebrating a birthday, Dominic Selga told CNN affiliate KOVR. Selga said he's trying to come to terms with the news that his mother, Fernisa Sison, her husband, Michael Quitasol, and his three stepsisters — Angela Quitasol, Evan Quitasol and Nicole Quitasol — are likely dead."You know deep down that it's true, that they've passed on and they were in that boat and they are not going to be found," Selga told the affiliate.The family loved diving, and signed up for a long weekend of unlimited colorful underwater sea life exploration and the gourmet meals that come with it. The adventure was to celebrate Michael Quitasol's birthday, he said."Diving is something they shared. It's one thing that … made them happy together," he said.
Neal Baltz
Arizona resident Neal Baltz was on the diving boat that went up in flames, his father, John Baltz, told CNN affiliate KNXV.
Charles McIlvain
Charles "Chuck" McIlvain died in the boat fire, according to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which identified him as the husband of one of its photographers.On a Facebook post, the organization offers condolences to his wife, Jasmine."Sea Shepherd is one bRead More – Source
