The U.S. Coast Guard has officially called off the search-and-rescue operation for the dozens of people who were on a scuba dive boat that caught fire off the coast of Santa Cruz Island in California .

The 34 people who were trapped on the boat at the time of the fire, including one crew member, are presumed dead.

It is never an easy decision to suspend search efforts, Coast Guard Capt. Monica Rochester said during a televised press conference Tuesday morning. We know this is a very difficult time for family and friends of the victims.