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George,

You raise a good point about your wife - While diving off Darwin Island in
the Galapagos last year, my wife ran out of gas in about 85' of cold-ass
water.  She was kinda scared in the current, and sucked her tank dry.  When I
checked her gauge, I almost shit my pants - she was at zeeerooooo...

I was wearing the AGA, and had her wearing a buddy-phone so I could talk with
her (I kept her within 3 feet of me the whole dive, since she was relatively
new to diving).

I had an octo, as well, so I calmly told her that I was going to give her my
octo and we would ascend.  She took the octo, but put it in her mouth upside
down and crooked.  As soon as I saw water begin to flow into her mouth I knew
it was time to bail.  I grabbed her forearm closely, and told her to hang on.
 I took her all the way to the surface, and got her on the panga.  

Since it was my third dive of the day - I went back down, and used the rest
of my gas to deco, with no harmful effects afterward.  She was fine also,
except for inhaling about a quart of seawater, and being scared out of her
wits.    

But the important point that you raise is this:  Like your wife, even though
she was in a completely fucked up situation - out of her element - she
remained totally calm with me, and didn't fight me at all.  (Your wife sounds
like she has a lot more experience than mine did - but her calmness is still
exemplary).

I don't know too many dudes who would handle that situation as well as she
did - they probably would have ripped off my AGA and killed us both.

I wonder if women are better at dealing with the kinds of stresses that one
encounters in personal life threatening emergencies, or if our wives are just
good examples of keeping ones head in an emergency.

P.S.  Me and the wife split up last year - not because of this incident -
because she wouldn't do deep air with me and Farb...

Kevin.
HeyyDude

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