Technical diving trainer and computer developer Gurr has submitted these personal thoughts to Divernet with the help of writer, underwater photographer and Spencer's fellow expedition-member Leigh Bishop, in tribute to the men’s much-respected diving colleague and friend:
“Carl always introduced himself as ‘just a plumber from Dudley’ to anyone he met in the diving world [Spencer ran his own air conditioning, ventilation and heating business, Spencair]. Carl, Leigh and I laughed at our ‘handles’ - the Plumber, the Fireman and the Diving Instructor. My memory blurs trying to recall the number of times the three of us were together on some boat or in some bar laughing at the day’s events.
“Who was Carl Spencer? My first real meeting with Carl was in 1997, ironically after the Britannic expedition I led. He explained that his ambition was to dive the wreck. That ambition became a reality very quickly.
“Carl seemed to have boundless energy. Whatever he dreamed up just happened. One dream turned into a lasting contact with James Cameron and the three of us chatting in a bar in a London hotel – very surreal!
“The contact with James led to Carl, Leigh and me making a trip to Titanic. Carl and I spent 12 hours locked together in a MIR submarine, a life-changing experience that wouldn’t have happened to us without Carl.
“In fact, Leigh and I agree that there were so many ‘that wouldn’t have happened without Carls’. They include freezing our backsides off 400 miles above the Arctic Circle, playing with two Navy mine-sweepers, looking for the midget submarine X5, and an amazing two weeks spent sailing around Vanuatu with Carl, Vikki and Ben watching volcanoes erupt in the fading evening light.
“Carl always had a plan. There was always a next event and you just knew it would happen at some time. His generosity to others was just natural. He was never gregarious or overt - he just quietly helped where he could.
“Carl was a unique individual in the diving industry. There was no take, it was all give. This was possible because there was no ego to fuel. He always doubted his abilities, which made him a very humble individual deep down, which in hindsight was always ridiculous.
“He was constantly, genuinely amazed when the next contact became a reality. ‘Kev, I can’t believe it. I am talking to the European Space Agency and I’m just a bloody plumber.’
“Outwardly, for someone who didn’t drink, you would swear he did. Dive trips were a constant round of laughter and humorous ridicule for anyone present. Often pointed inwards, Carl would make as much fun of himself.
“As a diver he was among the best. Like so few he listened and learned. His projects were meticulously organised with safety being paramount. Diving was more than a passion for him. He was one of the few modern explorers in an unforgiving environment akin only to space exploration. Eventually, sadly, like so many explorers he paid the price for his endeavours.
“As family men we often discussed the risks involved in what we did. While there was always a healthy respect in the background, Carl was always confident in his ability and would have stopped in a heartbeat if he doubted anything or thought he was putting his family at risk.
“I was always impressed with Carl’s love of his family [Spencer was married, with a young son and daughter]. Wherever we were he would find a way to contact home. We even discussed trying to do a satphone uplink from two-and-a-half miles under water on Titanic via the MIR’s comms system. ‘How cool would it be if I could phone Vikki and Ben?’
“Obviously Carl’s loss will affect many people. His family will bear the brunt of this but the diving industry, whether they know it or not, will also suffer. Carl would have gone on to do many extraordinary things.
“As for the rest of us, his friends and dive buddies, I am sure we all feel the same – ‘at a loss’ is an understatement. There will be many long discussions into the night, many drinks passing hands, in some cases tears but in many cases laughter.
“And this is how Carl should be remembered, with as many good memories as possible, with as much laughter as possible.
“The last time I saw Carl, the flash bugger landed his helicopter [Spencer was a qualified helicopter pilot] in a field near my house. As he was about to take off several hours later, and after discussions about the impending Britannic expedition, film work and space flight, he again reminded me that he was ‘just a plumber from Dudley’.
“I didn’t believe it then and I am sure Leigh and I never will.”
Related link
Carl Spencer dies on Britannic
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