Veteran water polo coach among California boat fire victims

From a veteran water polo coach to an advocate for the protection of sharks, the passengers aboard the ill-fated Conception dive boat were linked by their love for the water.

Here are the victims who have been identified so far from the deadly fire that engulfed the vessel, killing 34 people off California's wind-swept Channel Islands during their three-day excursion over Labor Day weekend.

VETERAN WATER POLO COACH

Before Justin Dignam founded a payroll company he coached water polo at universities.

Dignam was a veteran water polo player, who played at University of Richmond before coaching a team at Iona College and becoming the head coach of Wesleyan University's men's team, according to Team USA Water Polo. He also served as a referee.

Big Fish Employer Services President Jeff Hill called Dignam a "fearless" CEO in a letter posted to the company's website. Hill said he was heartbroken but promised to carry on in leading the company to honor what Dignam started when he founded it in 2003 in Placentia, California.

"With dedication in the face of any adversity, we will carry on as the capable team that Justin relied upon, just as he would expect," Hill wrote.

Dignam is from Anaheim Hills, California and is survived by a wife and two children.

CELEBRATING A TEEN'S BIRTHDAY

Apple engineer Steve Salika, 55, and his wife, Diana Adamic, 60, went on the trip with their daughter Tia Salika to celebrate the teen's 17th birthday.

Apple colleague Dan Garcia, 46, joined them with his girlfriend Yulia Krashennaya, 40.

Krashennaya was a product manager at Spiralinks where she did contracting work for Cisco Global Event Marketing, Richard Stehn, a company spokesperson told The Mercury News.

The pair were avid divers and underwater photographers who went on trips around the world,...