Synopsis
On September 2, 2019, America awoke to tragic news: The dive boat MV Conception had caught fire just offshore Santa Cruz Island, California. Haunting images of the boat engulfed in flames were televised internationally along with the frantic 3:15 AM call: “Mayday, mayday, mayday! Thirty-nine P.O.B…I can’t breathe!” Shortly after sunrise, the Coast Guard, firefighters, and first responders discovered there were five surviving crew members and thirty-four lives lost.
The incident left a nation grappling with unanswered questions: Why couldn’t the crew save the passengers? Why wasn’t the tragedy prevented by smoke alarms or fire extinguishers? Was there no roving night patrol? As the captain's criminal trial for seaman’s manslaughter loomed, families united to form Advocacy34, pushing for stricter safety measures. But one question lingers: what ignited the flames?
Author Heather Sawdon's personal connection to the tragedy, losing her beloved sister Kristy Finstad who was the charter master for the boat's last voyage, and her family’s history owning Worldwide Diving Adventures, led her to write about Kristy’s adventurous life as a marine biologist. Together with Kate Anslinger, the authors have doggedly researched the facts given by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the FBI criminal investigation, lawsuits, the Santa Cruz Island Foundation and others. This intensely gripping story culminates with insights for improving boat safety, shedding light on a quest for answers fueled by personal loss.