The names of the 2 Pacific Collegiate School students that were on the dive boat at the time of the fire have been made public. Berenice Felipe and Tia Salinka….along with Tia Salinka’s parents are believed to be 4 of the 34 passengers who died when the “Conception” caught fire and sank early Monday morning. 41 year-old Kristy Finstad, who worked in the Santa Cruz City Water Department for 10 years, and was a marine biologist and co-owner of Santa Cruz-based Worldwide Diving Adventures had chartered the 75-foot long commercial dive boat (out of Santa Barbara) for a 3-day dive trip near Santa Cruz Island….which is about 90 miles west of Los Angeles. A Fremont physics teacher, and his 26 year-old daughter, (who bonded over diving) were also on the dive boat. A Stockton man, his current wife, and 3 of his adult daughters were also aboard the “conception” to celebrate the man’s birthday…..just 2 weeks after the 3 sisters were bridesmaids at a 4th sister’s wedding. Arizona couple, Patricia Beitzinger and Neal Baltz, were also on the trip.
The fire broke out shortly after 3 a.m. Monday as the boat sat anchored in Platt’s Harbor off Santa Cruz Island which is 1 of a number of islands that form Channel Islands National Park, west of Los Angeles.
