Mike
Contributor
A long time ago, on my son's first-ever night dive when he was 10, we ended up trying to dive there. He had trouble clearing his ears so descended slowly and because of the current he and I got separated from the rest of the group. My wife tried to stay where she could see both our lights and those of the rest of the group. Then my (rented) primary light died. Then my (personal) backup light died. Then my son's light started to go wonky. At that point my wife's light disappeared. My kid and I hovered over the bottom as it zoomed past and decided that although we had decent visibility due to the full moon and his iffy light, we should thumb the dive. Around that time, the boat returned with the rest of the group after my wife had made them come get us. Everyone decided the current was excessive for a night dive and we ended up having such a good time on Paradise that my son has been a night dive addict ever since. He still usually tries to keep his light off or covered as much as possible.
Yow! There is so much in that story that puts shivers down my spine, I dive waaaaay more conservatively than that.
Your son's 1st night dive and you're on Santa Rosa wall, and he was 10 years old, and you're the only one with a back up light? Just my opinion, but that really sounds like you guys were pushing your luck, I'd consider a night dive on Santa Rosa wall an advanced dive.