Just after the news of the tragic fire on the M/V Conception broke out, I had no idea what to say. And then I received an email from CNN asking if I could put it in words for people to understand. Here is what I came up with.
Editors Note: Eric Douglas is a columnist for Scuba Diving Magazine and the co-author with Dan Orr of the book “Scuba Diving Safety.” He is also the author of the Mike Scott Thriller Series and nonfiction books like “Dive-Abled: The Leo Morales Story” and “Heart Survivor: Recovery from Heart Surgery.” The views expressed here are his own. Read more opinion on CNN.
(CNN) My heart sank on Monday when I saw the initial reports of the fire onboard the M/V Conception in California, but I immediately understood the circumstances the victims of the tragedy were facing. A group of divers was on board sleeping. No doubt they were dreaming of the dives they would do the next day, excited to explore the wonders of the Channel Islands.
I can imagine that because I’ve been there — never off the M/V Conception, but I have dived on one of her sister boats. I have made many dives in the cold, clear and thrilling waters in the area. I lived in Southern California early in my diving career and loved the experience of diving in the kelp forests and experiencing the Pacific Ocean.
