"Audio of a mayday call reveals that the dispatcher made several references to the passengers being “locked” inside the boat, with no means of escape from the flames."
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/mayday-audio-raises-questions-circumstances-135618364.html
What part of that is a misperception?
The Conception had no doors to lock! Open boat.
Lemme see.....3:30-4:00 am. Sleepy, extremely distressed crew member talking on a muffled radio.....didn’t stop to take the time to say....no, no doors to lock but they can’t get out because the fire is blocking their exit.
The difference between Locked and Blocked is a “B”. Push the mic transmit button a microsecond after speaking and you get a partial transmission. Other noise or misperception creates the same affect.
Number 1 - dispatchers don’t know jack about dive boats and their design. The panicked crewman is in a state of panic and says all manner of ridiculous things. Number 2 - I’ve been on the Conception and her sister boats - there are no locks on any doors except the four staterooms in the berthing area and the heads.
Being a multi day trip, it would be more likely that the emergency exits were blocked with gear bags, camera equipment, scooters, sleeping bags, coolers full of beer etc. No one is locked in anywhere on dive boats