SANTA BARBARA — Thirty three bodies of victims from a scuba diving boat fire off Southern California have been recovered and one was still missing on Wednesday, authorities said.
The new count of confirmed deaths came after officials recovered 13 bodies on Tuesday, said Coast Guard Lt. Zach Farrell, a spokesman for the inter-agency joint information center in Santa Barbara representing local, county, state and federal officials involved in the case.
Authorities had previously said that 34 people were presumed dead after Monday’s pre-dawn fire engulfed the boat named Conception as the victims slept below decks near the island of Santa Cruz during a three-day scuba diving excursion.
A candle reads “In memory of ‘The Conception and all lost,” is left for the victims of the Conception vessel outside of the Sea Landing at Santa Barbara Harbor in Santa Barbara, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019. No one likely escaped the flames that tore through the boat packed with scuba divers, with all 34 people sleeping below deck presumed dead during a Labor Day weekend expedition off the Southern California coast, authorities said Tuesday as they called off the search for survivors. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)
A memorial for the victims of the Conception vessel is seen outside of the Sea Landing at Santa Barbara Harbor in Santa Barbara, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019. Officials say no one likely escaped the flames that tore through a boat packed with scuba divers and the search for survivors has been called off. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)
Sound
The gallery will resume inseconds
The empty slip at the Santa Barbara Harbor where the Conception boat used to be anchored sits alone at Santa Barbara Harbor in Santa Barbara, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)
This Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 photo shows the Pacific Collegiate School in Santa Cruz, Calif. Several students attending the school were aboard the Conception dive boat when it caught fire off the Channel Islands in Southern California. The Northern California school posted a statement on its website that said “our hearts and thoughts are with the families of the victims and those yet missing, particularly those of our students and parents on board.” School director Maria C. Reitano declined Tuesday to say how many students went on the trip, which was not school sponsored. (Dan Coyro/The Santa Cruz Sentinel via AP)
Jet skiers ride past the empty slip at the Santa Barbara Harbor where the Conception boat is used to be anchored next to its smaller sister boat, the Truth, in Santa Barbara, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)
This Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, image from video released by the U.S. Coast Guard shows a Coast Guard Sector San Diego MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter video screen, as crew responds to the vessel “Conception” boat fire off Santa Cruz Island near Santa Barbara, Calif. Officials say no one likely escaped the flames that tore through a boat packed with scuba divers and the search for survivors has been called off. Authorities said Tuesday that no one has been found alive. Only five of crew members sleeping on the top deck were able to escape early Monday. (U.S. Coast Guard via AP)
This Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 photo shows Pacific Collegiate School in Santa Cruz, Calif. Several students attending the school were aboard the Conception dive boat when it caught fire off the Channel Islands in Southern California. The Northern California school posted a statement on its website that said “our hearts and thoughts are with the families of the victims and those yet missing, particularly those of our students and parents on board.” School director Maria C. Reitano declined Tuesday to say how many students went on the trip, which was not school sponsored. (Dan Coyro/The Santa Cruz Sentinel via AP)
In this Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, photo tweeted by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Fire Chief Mark A. Hartwig, center at podium, speaks at a news conference at the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office headquarters in Santa Barbara, Calif. Fire Chief Hartwig told reporters that the victims’ relatives “will rely on us to do everything in our power to find out happened aboard that vessel in the last moments of these family members’ lives. That’s our commitment.” (Mike Eliason/Santa Barbara County Fire via AP)
FBI investigators climb aboard the “Vision” a sister vessel to the scuba boat Conception to document its layout and learn more about the deadly pre-dawn fire in Santa Barbara, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019. A fire raged through the Conception boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California Coast on Monday, leaving multiple people dead. Authorities on Tuesday ended the search for survivors. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)
FBI investigators climb aboard the “Vision” a sister vessel to the scuba boat Conception to document its layout and learn more about the deadly pre-dawn fire in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019. A fire raged through the boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California Coast on Monday, leaving multiple people dead. Authorities on Tuesday ended the search for survivors. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)
Authorities and FBI investigators cart away evidence taken from the scuba boat Conception in Santa Barbara Harbor at the end of their second day searching for the remaining divers who were missing, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, in Santa Barbara, Calif. High school students, a science teacher and his daughter, an adventurous marine biologist and a family of five celebrating a birthday are among those presumed to have died when fire tore through the scuba diving boat off the Southern California coast Monday, trapping dozens of sleeping people below deck. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)
FBI investigators climb aboard the “Vision” a sister vessel to the scuba boat Conception to document its layout and learn more about the deadly pre-dawn fire that destroyed the boat in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019. A fire raged through the boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California Coast Monday, leaving multiple people dead. Authorities ended the search for survivors Tuesday. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)
Authorities lock away evidence taken from the scuba boat Conception in Santa Barbara Harbor at the end of their second day searching for the remaining divers on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, in Santa Barbara, Calif. High school students, a science teacher and his daughter, an adventurous marine biologist and a family of five celebrating a birthday are among those presumed to have died when fire tore through the scuba diving boat off the Southern California coast Monday, trapping dozens of sleeping people below deck. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)
Authorities cart away evidence taken from the scuba boat Conception in Santa Barbara Harbor at the end of their second day searching for the remaining divers who were missing on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, in Santa Barbara, Calif. High school students, a science teacher and his daughter, an adventurous marine biologist and a family of five celebrating a birthday are among those presumed to have died when fire tore through a scuba diving boat off the Southern California coast Monday, trapping dozens of sleeping people below deck. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)
Authorities cart away evidence taken from the scuba boat Conception in Santa Barbara Harbor at the end of their second day searching for the remaining divers on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, in Santa Barbara, Calif. High school students, a science teacher and his daughter, an adventurous marine biologist and a family of five celebrating a birthday are among those presumed to have died when fire tore through a scuba diving boat off the Southern California coast Monday, trapping dozens of sleeping people below deck. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)
Investigators with the FBI gather supplies to examine evidence at a command post at the Santa Barbara Harbor to begin investigating evidence from the “Conception” on Tuesday, Sept. 3., 2019 in Santa Barbara, Calif. A fire raged through the boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California Coast on Monday, Sept. 2, leaving multiple people dead. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)
Firefighters with the Kern County Fire Department help local officials unload supplies used to search for the remains of divers from the Conception on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 in Santa Barbara, Calif. A fire raged through a boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California Coast on Monday, Sept. 2, leaving multiple people dead. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)
Members of the FBI’s Evidence Response Team set up a command post at the Santa Barbara Harbor to begin investigating evidence from the “Conception” on Tuesday, Sept. 3., 2019 in Santa Barbara, Calif. A fire raged through the boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California Coast on Monday, Sept. 2, leaving multiple people dead. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)
A small vigil is placed at the a liquor store to honor the victims of the scuba boat Conception on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, in Santa Barbara, Calif. A fire raged through the boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California Coast on Monday, leaving multiple people dead and others still missing. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)
Members of the FBI’s Evidence Response Team set up a command post at the Santa Barbara Harbor to begin investigating evidence from the scuba boat Conception on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, in Santa Barbara, Calif. A fire raged through the boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California Coast on Monday, leaving multiple people dead and others missing. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)
A wooden cross and a sign that reads “Go With God” in Spanish are displayed at a memorial site for the victims of the diving boat Conception on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, in Santa Barbara, Calif. A fire raged through the boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California Coast on Monday, leaving multiple people dead and others missing. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)
Local law enforcement return from a day of searching for the remains of divers who perished in the ship Conception, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, in Santa Barbara, Calif. A fire raged through the boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California Coast on Monday, leaving multiple people dead and little hope that any of the people still missing would be found alive. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)
This undated photo provided by the Fremont, Calif., School District shows physics teacher Scott Chan. While authorities have not yet released the names of any victims, a district representative says Chan was one of those aboard the dive boat Conception that burned and sank off Santa Cruz Island Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019. (Fremont School District via AP)
This image made from video provided by KABC-TV shows the outlined search area where divers are searching the wreckage of the sunken dive boat Conception, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, after it burned and sank Sunday, off Santa Cruz Island in Southern California’s Channel Islands. (KABC-TV via AP)
Local residents with their dogs pause at a memorial for the victims of the Conception vessel outside of the Sea Landing at Santa Barbara Harbor in Santa Barbara, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019. Officials say no one likely escaped the flames that tore through a boat packed with scuba divers and the search for survivors has been called off. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)
Authorities cart away evidence taken from the scuba boat Conception in Santa Barbara Harbor at the end of their second day searching for the remaining divers on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, in Santa Barbara, Calif. High school students, a science teacher and his daughter, an adventurous marine biologist and a family of five celebrating a birthday are among those presumed to have died when fire tore through a scuba diving boat off the Southern California coast Monday, trapping dozens of sleeping people below deck. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)
Nicole Quitasol was one of the victims in Monday’s dive boat fire off of Santa Barbara. (Facebook)
Angela Quitasol was one of the victims in Monday’s dive boat fire off of Santa Barbara. (Facebook)
The owner of a Santa Cruz-based diving company, Kristy Finstad, seen above,
is missing after a boat she was on caught fire and sank early Monday off
the coast of Southern California, killing at least four people and leaving
many others missing. (Photo courtesy of Kristy Finstad Facebook profile)
People hug each other as they await news outside of the Truth Aquatics office in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. Multiple people are feared dead after a dive boat caught fire before dawn Monday off the Southern California coast, according to the Coast Guard. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)
Maya Upton, of Santa Barbara, Calif., places flowers at outside of the Sea Landing at Santa Barbara Harbor in Santa Barbara on Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
JJ Lambert, 38, and his fiancee, Jenna Marsala, 33, hang up a dive flag in remembrance of the victims of the Conception boat fire at a memorial site on Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, in Santa Barbara, Calif. A fire raged through the boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California coast early Monday, leaving multiple people dead and hope diminishing that any of the more than two dozen people still missing would be found alive. (AP Photo/Stefanie Dazio)
Flowers and messages are placed outside of the Sea Landing at Santa Barbara Harbor in Santa Barbara, Calif., Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. A fire raged through a boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California coast early Monday, leaving multiple people dead and hope diminishing that any of the more than two dozen people still missing would be found alive. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Flowers float on the water near the Sea Landing at Santa Barbara Harbor in Santa Barbara, Calif., Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. A fire raged through a boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California coast early Monday, leaving multiple people dead and hope diminishing that any of the more than two dozen people still missing would be found alive. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 03: Members of the FBI Evidence Response Team and other officials work in Santa Barbara Harbor on September 3, 2019 in Santa Barbara, California. Authorities have found 25 bodies thus far after the diving ship Conception caught fire and sank while anchored near Santa Cruz Island in the early morning hours of September 2. Five crew members survived. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Jennifer Stafford adds water to flowers placed with candles at makeshift memorial for the victims of a scuba diving boat fire, on September 3, 2019, in Santa Barbara, California. – Authorities on Tuesday suspended the search for survivors of a scuba diving boat disaster in Santa Cruz Island off the California coast after recovering 20 bodies and spotting another four to six trapped in underwater wreckage. The bodies of 11 women and nine men were transferred to coroner offices following the disaster on September 2, when the 75-foot (23-meter) Conception caught fire and sank with passengers trapped below deck by the roaring blaze. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 03: Members of the FBI Evidence Response Team and other officials work in Santa Barbara Harbor on September 3, 2019 in Santa Barbara, California. Authorities have found 25 bodies thus far after the diving ship Conception caught fire and sank while anchored near Santa Cruz Island in the early morning hours of September 2. Five crew members survived. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 03: Members of the FBI Evidence Response Team and other officials work in Santa Barbara Harbor on September 3, 2019 in Santa Barbara, California. Authorities have found 25 bodies thus far after the diving ship Conception caught fire and sank while anchored near Santa Cruz Island in the early morning hours of September 2. Five crew members survived. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
The 75-foot Conception dive bota built in 1981, seen here on a past dive trip, caught fire and sunk off the coast of Santa Cruz Island, Monday, Sept. 2, killing 34 people. (Photo courtesy Dale Sheckler)
The 75-foot Conception dive bota built in 1981, seen here on a past dive trip, caught fire and sunk off the coast of Santa Cruz Island, Monday, Sept. 2, killing 34 people. (Photo courtesy Dale Sheckler)
Divers with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriffâs Dive Team walk past local beachgoers as they prepare for a second day of searching on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 in Santa Barbara, Calif. A fire raged through a boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California Coast on Monday, Sept. 2, leaving multiple people dead and little hope that any of the people still missing would be found alive. (AP Photo by Christian Monterrosa )
A diver with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriffâs Dive Team holds rope and paracord needed for a second day of searching on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 in Santa Barbara, Calif. A fire raged through a boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California Coast on Monday, Sept. 2, leaving multiple people dead and little hope that any of the people still missing would be found alive. (AP Photo by Christian Monterrosa )
Divers with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriffâs Dive Team load life vests into a boat as they prepare for a second day of searching on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 in Santa Barbara, Calif. A fire raged through a boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California Coast on Monday, Sept. 2, leaving multiple people dead and little hope that any of the people still missing would be found alive. (AP Photo by Christian Monterrosa )
Divers with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Dive Team prepare for a second day of searching on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 in Santa Barbara, Calif. A fire raged through a boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California Coast on Monday, Sept. 2, leaving multiple people dead and little hope that any of the people still missing would be found alive. (AP Photo by Christian Monterrosa )
A diver with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Dive Team prepares for a second day of searching on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 in Santa Barbara, Calif. A fire raged through a boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California Coast on Monday, Sept. 2, leaving multiple people dead and little hope that any of the people still missing would be found alive. (AP Photo by Christian Monterrosa )
Divers with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Dive Team prepare to search for a second day for missing people following a dive boat fire off Southern California’s coast that killed dozens sleeping below deck, in Santa Barbara, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019. (AP Photo by Christian Monterrosa )
Divers with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Dive Team prepare for a second day of searching for those still missing in Monday’s fire on a dive boat, on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019 in Santa Barbara, Calif. A fire raged through a boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California Coast on Monday, Sept. 2, leaving multiple people dead and little hope that any of the people still missing would be found alive. (AP Photo by Christian Monterrosa )
Local law enforcement and fire officials prepare for a second day of searching on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, in Santa Barbara, Calif. A fire raged through a boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California Coast on Monday, Sept. 2, leaving multiple people dead and little hope that any of the people still missing would be found alive. (AP Photo by Christian Monterrosa )
Divers with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Dive Team prepare to search for missing people following a dive boat fire off Southern California’s coast that killed dozens sleeping below deck, on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, in Santa Barbara, Calif. (AP Photo by Christian Monterrosa )
This image made from video released by TowBoatUS Ventura shows a burning out charter dive boat “Conception,” before it sank off Santa Cruz Island, near the coast of Ventura County, Calif., early Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. (Capt. Paul Amaral/TowBoatUS Ventura via AP)
The owner of a Santa Cruz-based diving company, Kristy Finstad, seen above, is missing after a boat she was on caught fire and sank early Monday off the coast of Southern California, killing at least four people and leaving many others missing. (Photo courtesy of Kristy Finstad Facebook profile)
Orlando Aldana, 42, of Santa Barbara, lights candles in honor of the victims at the growing memorial for those caught in the fire on the Conception boat, Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, in Santa Barbara, Calif. A fire raged through the boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California coast early Monday, leaving multiple people dead and hope diminishing that any of the more than two dozen people still missing would be found alive. (AP Photo/Stefanie Dazio)
Maya Upton, of Santa Barbara, Calif., places flowers outside of the Sea Landing at Santa Barbara Harbor in Santa Barbara on Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Flowers are placed at outside of the Sea Landing at Santa Barbara Harbor in Santa Barbara, Calif., Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Santa Barbara City Search and Rescue along with Santa Barbara Sheriff’s officers move a recovered body on the dock at Santa Barbara Harbor in Santa Barbara, Calif., Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. The body was recovered from a dive boat fire near Santa Cruz Island early Monday. (AP Photo/Daniel Dreifuss)
Santa Barbara City Search and Rescue along with Santa Barbara Sheriff officers load a recovered body into a van at Santa Barbara Harbor in Santa Barbara, Calif., Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. The body was recovered from a dive boat fire near Santa Cruz Island early Monday. (AP Photo/Daniel Dreifuss)
Santa Barbara City Search and Rescue along with Santa Barbara Sheriff’s officers move a recovered body on the dock at Santa Barbara Harbor in Santa Barbara, Calif., Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. The body was recovered from a dive boat fire near Santa Cruz Island early Monday. (AP Photo/Daniel Dreifuss)
Santa Barbara City Search and Rescue along with Santa Barbara Sheriff officers move a recovered body on the dock at Santa Barbara Harbor in Santa Barbara, Calif., Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. The body was recovered from a dive boat fire near Santa Cruz Island early Monday. (AP Photo/Daniel Dreifuss)
Coast Guard crews leave the U.S. Coast Guard Station Channel Islands in Oxnard, Calif., Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. Authorities have recovered the bodies of several people who died after a raging fire swept through a dive-boat, which sank off the Southern California coast Monday. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Members of the American Red Cross arrive at U.S. Coast Guard Station Channel Islands in Oxnard, Calif., Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Congresswoman Julia Broenley talks to media at outside of the U.S. Coast Guard Station Channel Islands in Oxnard, Calif., Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
A member of the American Red Cross arrives at the U.S. Coast Guard Station Channel Islands in Oxnard, Calif. Sept. 2, 2019, following a fire on a dive-boat anchored off Santa Cruz Island. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
People hug each other as they await news outside of the Truth Aquatics office in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. Multiple people are feared dead after a dive boat caught fire before dawn Monday off the Southern California coast, according to the Coast Guard. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)
Whale watchers board a boat outside of the Truth Aquatics office in Santa Barbara, Calif., as people nearby await to hear news about a diving boat that caught fire and sank on Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)
A woman is comforted by a member of the Ventura County Fire department at U.S. Coast Guard Station Channel Islands in Oxnard, Calif., Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. Multiple people are feared dead after a dive boat caught fire before dawn Monday off the Southern California coast, according to the Coast Guard. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Coast Guard Capt. Monica Rochester, right, addresses the media at the U.S. Coast Guard Station Channel Islands base in Oxnard, Calif. Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. A dive boat caught fire before dawn Monday off the Southern California coast. Several crew members were rescued and Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Kroll told The Associated Press the Coast Guard was searching for others who may have been able to escape the fire by jumping from the boat. (AP Photo/Stefanie Dazio)
In this image made from video provided by KCBS authorities assist a man who was rescued from a deadly boat fire Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, off Santa Cruz Island, in Calif. (KCBS via AP)
In this image made from video provided by KCBS authorities assist a man who was rescued from a deadly boat fire Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, off Santa Cruz Island, in Calif. (KCBS via AP)
In this image made from video provided by KCBS authorities with the Oxnard Fire Department assist a man who was rescued from a deadly boat fire Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, off Santa Cruz Island, in Calif. (KCBS via AP)
In this photo provided by the Ventura County Fire Department, VCFD firefighters respond to a boat fire off the coast of southern California, Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. The U.S. Coast Guard said it has launched several boats to help over two dozen people “in distress” off the coast of southern California. (Ventura County Fire Department via AP)
In this photo provided by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department a dive boat is engulfed in flames after a deadly fire broke out aboard the commercial scuba diving vessel off the Southern California Coast Monday morning, Sept. 2, 2019. (Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP)
In this photo provided by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, firefighters work to extinguish a dive boat engulfed in flames after a deadly fire broke out aboard the commercial scuba diving vessel off the Southern California Coast Monday morning, Sept. 2, 2019. (Santa Barbara County Fire Department via AP)
In this photo provided by the Ventura County Fire Department, VCFD firefighters respond to a boat fire off the coast of southern California, Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. The U.S. Coast Guard said it has launched several boats to help over two dozen people “in distress” off the coast of southern California. (Ventura County Fire Department via AP)
In this photo provided by the Ventura County Fire Department, VCFD firefighters respond to a boat fire off the coast of southern California, Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. The U.S. Coast Guard said it has launched several boats to help over two dozen people “in distress” off the coast of southern California. (Ventura County Fire Department via AP)
James Miranda, left, of Santa Barbara, drops flowers into the water at a dock near the Sea Landing at Santa Barbara Harbor in Santa Barbara , Calif. Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
A U.S. flag flies at half staff on the Sea Landing at Santa Barbara Harbor in Santa Barbara , Calif. Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Flowers are place at dolphin statue at Santa Barbara Harbor in Santa Barbara , Calif. Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Flowers are place at dolphin statue at Santa Barbara Harbor in Santa Barbara , Calif. Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
This image made from video released by TowBoatUS Ventura shows a burning out charter dive boat “Conception,” before it sank off Santa Cruz Island, near the coast of Ventura County, Calif., early Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. (Capt. Paul Amaral/TowBoatUS Ventura via AP)
A pair of fins and flowers are placed on the outside of the Sea Landing at Santa Barbara Harbor in Santa Barbara, Calif., Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. A fire raged through a boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California coast early Monday, leaving multiple people dead and hope diminishing that any of the more than two dozen people still missing would be found alive. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
This image made from video released by TowBoatUS Ventura shows an emergency responder douses dive boat “Conception,” before it sank off Santa Cruz Island, near the coast of Ventura County, Calif., early Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. (Capt. Paul Amaral/TowBoatUS Ventura via AP)
Flowers float on the water near the Sea Landing at Santa Barbara Harbor in Santa Barbara, Calif., Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. A fire raged through a boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California coast early Monday, leaving multiple people dead and hope diminishing that any of the more than two dozen people still missing would be found alive. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
James Miranda, left, of Santa Barbara, holds flowers and takes a moment to reflect at a dock near the Sea Landing at Santa Barbara Harbor in Santa Barbara, Calif., Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. A fire raged through a boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California coast early Monday, leaving multiple people dead and hope diminishing that any of the more than two dozen people still missing would be found alive. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Flowers and messages are placed outside of the Sea Landing at Santa Barbara Harbor in Santa Barbara, Calif., Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. A fire raged through a boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California coast early Monday, leaving multiple people dead and hope diminishing that any of the more than two dozen people still missing would be found alive. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Colin Martz, an intern at Santa Barbara Sailing Center, places flowers at a dolphin statue at Santa Barbara Harbor in Santa Barbara, Calif., Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. A fire raged through a boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California coast early Monday, leaving multiple people dead and hope diminishing that any of the more than two dozen people still missing would be found alive. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Flowers are placed at a dolphin statue at Santa Barbara Harbor in Santa Barbara, Calif. Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. A fire raged through a boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California coast early Monday, leaving multiple people dead and hope diminishing that any of the more than two dozen people still missing would be found alive. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown, addresses the media outside the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s headquarters in Santa Barbara, Calif., Monday, Sept. 2, 2019. A fire raged through a boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California coast early Monday, leaving multiple people dead and hope diminishing that any of the more than two dozen people still missing would be found alive. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)
Local law enforcement and coroners work to retrieve the bodies found by diving teams after a deadly fire on the boat Conception, Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, in Santa Barbara, Calif. A fire raged through a boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California coast early Monday, leaving multiple people dead and hope diminishing that any of the remaining people still missing would be found alive. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)
Local law enforcement along with search and rescue teams walk down a dock at Santa Barbara Harbor to help retrieve bodies of those who died in a diving boat fire Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, in Santa Barbara, Calif. A fire raged through a boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California coast early Monday, leaving multiple people dead and hope diminishing that any of the remaining people still missing would be found alive. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)
A member of FBI arrives at U.S. Coast Guard Station Channel Islands in Oxnard, Calif. Sept. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Orlando Aldana, 42, of Santa Barbara, lights candles in honor of the victims at the growing memorial for those caught in the fire on the Conception boat, Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, in Santa Barbara, Calif. A fire raged through the boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California coast early Monday, leaving multiple people dead and hope diminishing that any of the more than two dozen people still missing would be found alive. (AP Photo/Stefanie Dazio)
SANTA CRUZ ISLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 2: In this handout provided by Santa Barbara County Fire Department, the 75-foot Conception, based in Santa Barbara Harbor, burns after catching fire early September 2, 2019 anchored off Santa Cruz Island, California. Thirty-four are missing, while five crew members were rescued, according to published reports. (Photo by Santa Barbara County Fire Department via Getty Images)
A commercial scuba-dive boat sank amid intense flames early off the coast of Southern California and 34 passengers were unaccounted for, the US Coast Guard said. Five Conception crew members were awake and jumped into the water when flames burst out around 3:15 am. (Courtesy of Ventura County Fire Department)
Marine first responders on Monday morning, Sept. 2, were searching for more than 30 people that were unaccounted for after the 75-foot boat they were on burst into flames near Santa Cruz Island. Five of the crew members were rescued by authorities. (Photo Courtesy of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department)
Five crew members, including the captain, managed to escape. The vessel eventually sank and overturned, making the recovery of bodies challenging.
The victims identified so far include high school students, a science teacher and his daughter, a marine biologist and a family of five celebrating a birthday.
Officials have said the captain and four other crew members who survived jumped off the front of the vessel, swam to an inflatable boat at its stern and steered it to a ship anchored nearby.
But flames moved so quickly through the 75-foot (23-meter) vessel that it blocked a narrow stairway and an escape hatch leading to the upper decks, giving those below virtually no chance of escaping, authorities said.
Authorities ended the search for any other survivors on Tuesday.
DNA will be needed to identify all the victims. Authorities will use the same rapid analysis tool that identified victims of the deadly wildfire that devastated the Northern California town of Paradise last year, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said.
Brown said he had heard anecdotally that those who died ranged from teenagers to people in their 60s.
A broken-hearted mother said on her Facebook page Tuesday that her three daughters, their father and his wife were among those presumed dead.
Susana Rosas of Stockton, California, posted that her three daughters — Evan, Nicole and Angela Quitasol — were with their father Michael Quitasol and stepmother Fernisa Sison.
Evan Quitasol was a nurse at St. Joseph’s Medical Center of Stockton, where her father and Sison had worked after attending nursing school at San Joaquin Delta College.
Sison also worked at the college teaching first-year nursing students full-time in 2005 and 2006 and later as an adjunct instructor, according to the school’s spokesman, Alex Breitler.
“Everybody’s devastated. It’s a totally unexpected thing that happened,” said Dominic Selga, Sison’s ex-husband. “What caused the fire, that’s the big question, that’s what we all want to know.”
Rosas’ husband, Chris, told the Los Angeles Times that Nicole Quitasol worked as a bartender in Coronado near San Diego and her sister, Angela, was a science teacher at a middle school in Stockton.
Nicole worked for a Coronado restaurant called Nicky Rottens. A GoFundMe page the restaurant to help the family described Nicole as “an adventurous & loving soul.”
The fire broke out shortly after 3 a.m. Monday as the boat sat anchored in Platt’s Harbor off Santa Cruz Island, among the rugged, wind-swept isles that form Channel Islands National Park in the Pacific Ocean west of Los Angeles.
Those on board included students from Pacific Collegiate School in Santa Cruz, a public charter school for grades 7 through 12, the school said.
Scott Chan, a physics teacher at American High School in Fremont, also was aboard with his daughter, said Brian Killgore, a spokesman for the Fremont Unified School District. The district said in a statement that Chan taught Advance Placement physics classes for the past three years.
“His students knew him to be an innovative and inspiring teacher who developed a passion for physics among his students,” the district said in a statement. “His loss is a tremendous tragedy for our school district.”
Chan on his LinkedIn page described his teaching as driven by “passion and wealth of real-world experience from research laboratories, and the electronics, computer, and high-performance automotive industries.”
ABC affiliate KNXV-TV in Phoenix reported that an Arizona couple, Patricia Beitzinger and Neal Baltz, were on the trip.
“They went to heaven doing something they loved together,” Neal’s father, John Baltz, told the television station.
Also below decks was Kristy Finstad, a marine biologist and co-owner of Worldwide Diving Adventures in Santa Cruz, which chartered the boat. Finstad was leading the scuba tour.
Finstad knew the area well and had done hundreds of dives in the Channel Islands, where she first swam with her father as a toddler. She first dove with a tank off Mexico at age 9, according to her company’s website.
Finstad studied damselfish and corals in the Tahitian Islands, dove for black pearls in the French Polynesian Tuamotus Islands and counted salmonids for the city of Santa Cruz, where she lived. She also did research for the Australian Institute of Marine Science and wrote a restoration guidebook for the California Coastal Commission.
“My mission is to inspire appreciation for our underwater world,” she wrote on her company’s website.
She and her husband had just returned from sailing across the South Pacific.
Actor Rob Lowe tweeted that he had been aboard the vessel many times. Dave Reid, who runs an underwater camera manufacturing business with his wife, Terry Schuller, also has traveled on the Conception and two other boats in Truth Aquatics’ fleet and said he considered all three among the best and safest.
Schuller said the company’s crews have always been meticulous in going over safety instructions at the beginning of every trip she’s been on.
“They tell you where the life jackets are, how to put them on … the exits, where the fire extinguishers are, on every single trip,” Schuller said.
Coast Guard records show the boat’s owners quickly addressed all safety violations over the last five years.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the fire and scheduled a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
Associated Press writers John Antczak and John Rogers in Los Angeles, Julie Watson in San Diego and Janie Har in San Francisco contributed to this story.
5 Bathrooms With Both Modern and Farmhouse Touches (14 photos)
Large retailers should pay rent so we can help smaller retailers: Kimco Realty CEO
Here's what the Fed's half-point rate hike means for your money
What to think about when saving for near-term goals amid choppy markets, rising interest rates
Wallpaper for the Fifth Wall: A Modern Fix for Popcorn Ceilings?
Backyard of the Week: A New Pool and Spa, and Room to Lounge (4 photos)