Dozens are feared dead after a fire swept through a dive boat overnight off the Southern Californian Coast. Four bodies have been recovered with injuries consistent to drowning according to Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Mather Kroll. The vessel known as the Conception burst into flames around 3am Monday morning (local time) and searchers are still looking for more than two dozen people. It is believed there were 39 people on board of which 5 were crew members that dived into the water soon after the fire started at dawn. “The crew was actually already awake and on the bridge and they off” said Rochester. Coast Guard Petty Officer Mark Barney has stated that two have suffered minor injuries. 34 other people were asleep below deck when the fire started and it is feared that they may not have been able to escape. When the fire began a distress call was made to the Coast Guard, parts of the message were inaudible but a man was heard saying “ Mayday Mayday… I can’t breathe.” “ Can you get back on board and unlock the boat?” a L.A Coast Guard dispatcher asked and followed with asking if there was an “ escape hatch for any of the people onboard”, The crew members voice could not be understood when the dispatcher asks “ You don’t have any firefighting gear at all? No fire extinguishers or anything?” The “Great Escape” a vessel that was nearby rescued crew members that jumped from the boat. When queried if the crew had tried to help the others on board Mr Rochester said “ I don’t have any additional information!” The Conception was a 20 -metre commercial scuba diving vessel and was on the last day of a labor day week-end cruise to the channel Islands when she was engulfed anchored 18 metres of the Santa Cruz coast her bow is still visible above the waterline as she sank 64 feet. According to the “Truth Aquatics” website the vessel was equipped with rafts and life jackets for up to 110 passengers and exits on the port, starboard and bow that provide “easy water entry”. Relatives are still waiting to hear news of their loved ones with one woman who was at the harbour saying “my son was on that boat”. While at the same time Mr James Kohl (pictured below) was waiting at the gate waiting on news of his 58 year old brother who was a cook on the Conception.