Dive boat fire off Santa Cruz Island, CA

[Deleted User]

Horrible news, 34 people still missing.
https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/video/4157756-survivor-brought-in-to-shore-from-boat-fire-off-santa-cruz-island/

GMSLITHO

Terrible 

Willhound

Yeah, just read that a short time ago. Makes me feel sick. Sounds like they never had a chance.

[Deleted User]

Ventura County Fire Scanner audio of Ch. 16 mayday from dive boat Conception. This is chilling.

http://chirb.it/4sHyGs

LaRea

That's a real nightmare.  BTW it's front page news here too. 

Listening to that mayday dredged up bad memories from when I had to make a mayday call years ago.  The biggest thing I remember was that there were LOTS of people trying to talk on 16.  It would have been total chaos, except the pro staff would start most of their transmissions by saying who they were calling, and who they were.  As in, "Sector Baltimore, Fire Boat 20 - ETA 10 minutes."  

To this day, I practice doing that.  And I hope I never make another mayday call.  

randy56

That had to be a diesel boat wonder what was the cause.

Michael T

I noticed 5 of the 6 boat crew made it off safely. Reminds me of a scuba boat accident many years ago in the Hondouras. An acquaitence had to point a spear gun at the crew who were taking-off in a life boat that would have held everyone. According to him that's how they survived. Apparently there was quite a dust-up once shore was reached and the crew had to be rescued from the divers on the boat and at the dive resort. 

Black_Diamond

Sounds like a propane leak to engulf the whole boat that fast. 

aero3113

Could've been an oxygen fire also.

[Deleted User]

The NTSB is on the case and the cause will become known. I suspect propane was the problem like Black_Diamond mentions. The skipper of the private boat Grape Escape deserves kudos for helping in the rescue.
Andy