2airishuman
Contributor
Any suggestions, what to expect, how do you know which way is up?
In this modern age, people differ in the degree of comfort they have with darkness. As you are in Tennessee, you may know where the Big Frog Wilderness is. In my (misspent) youth, I would go for walks there at night. I would carry a flashlight but typically did not use it.
As a general rule, I take two lights on every dive, including daytime dives. Often, when diving with other people, I give a light to someone who needs one.
Generally, unless you are comfortable with blackwater (zero viz) dives, you would want to stay close to a wall or some other visual reference you can see. Most DMs/instructors who lead night dives understand this. You could ask the individual who is organizing the dive, if you are concerned.
The handful of night dives I've been on have all been memorable. Enjoy.