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(CNN) – Thirty-nine passionate divers, families and crew onboard the Conception were resting after a day of diving and gourmet meals when the flames flooded the ship in the hours before the dawn of the labor Day.
Most of the passengers came from several cities in San Francisco Bay to dive into the colorful underwater sea for three days, said Sheriff Bill Brown of Santa Barbara County.
Only five people – all crew members – were found alive and the bodies of 20 people were found off the island of Santa Cruz. The search for survivors was suspended after nearly 24 hours of search at sea.
Although the identity of the people aboard the Design has not been unveiled by the authorities, here is what we know about some of them:
Kristy Finstad
A marine biologist who grew up swimming off the Channel Islands and owned a diving company based in Santa Cruz was on board the Conception, said his brother.
Kristy Finstad was leading a diving trip on the ship, writes Brett Harmeling in a Facebook publication.
Finstad is the owner of Worldwide Diving Adventures, a local company that has chartered the Dive Boat Design from Truth Aquatics, reveals trade documents.
She had "thousands of dives to her credit" and had studied marine life in the Tahitian Islands, Costa Rica and Australia, according to her company's website.
"My mission is to inspire the appreciation of our underwater world.I feel incredibly fortunate to be at the service of helping people invest in the experiences of their lives", she said in her biography.
Finstad and her husband had also crossed the South Pacific to "find new amazing places" for their customers.
"Thanks to ALL for your unconditional love and support in this incredibly tragic time, my family and I really appreciate it – no last word to my sister Kristy, but it is likely that she will be Good God, "wrote Harmeling. Tuesday on Facebook.
Mike Kohls
Kohls was the cook and deckhand of the Conception, explains his brother.
The always-on surfer and father of a girl usually prepared breakfast for the ship's passengers around 4 am, James Kohls told the press Monday as he waited for news of his brother.
Allie Kurtz
Allie Kurtz felt more at ease at home than diving into the ocean, her mother said.
Cherie McDonough went to California from Cincinnati, Ohio, after hearing about the design dive boat's fire. Her 25-year-old daughter was a passenger aboard the ship, she said.
Kurtz worked for Paramount Pictures for several years but "wanted to follow his dreams of ocean, sea, diving," his mother told the press at a memorial in Santa Barbara Harbor.
"She was a girl who goes fast," said her mother. "She loved it here, and she loved the boat, she loved to dive"
McDonough collapsed on the floor and began to sob when she saw her daughter's photo at the memorial. There were 34 candles for the 34 people presumed dead.
The message under the picture said, "I love Allie – and you know I'll always love her, I'll miss you forever."
Scott Chan
Physics professor Raymond (Scott) Chan was aboard the Conception with his daughter, Fremont School District spokesman Brian Killgore said.
"Mr. Chan was a beloved teacher at AHS among students and colleagues," the district said in a statement. "His students have recognized him for being an innovative and inspiring teacher, who has developed a passion for physics among his students."
Chan had taught two AP physics classes in the district in the past three years, the statement said.
"His loss is a tragedy for our school district."
Neal Baltz
Neal Baltz, an Arizona resident, was on the burning dive boat, said his father, John Baltz, to CNN affiliate KNXV.
A family of five
Five family members from Stockton, California, were aboard the boat, said CNN's Dominic Selga, KOVR.
Selga said his mother, Fernisa Sison, was on board with her husband, Michael Quitasol, and her three half-sisters, Angela Quitasol, Evan Quitasol and Nicole Quitasol.
CNN's Chris Boyette, Darran Simon, Dave Alsup and Rebekah Riess contributed to this report.
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