Hello from Alan McKenna at Loch Ness Exploration

My name is Alan McKenna, and I lead Loch Ness Exploration (LNE), an independent, volunteer-driven research group based in Scotland, proudly sponsored by The Loch Ness Centre.

Our mission is to observe, document, and study the natural behaviour of Loch Ness while exploring rare and sometimes puzzling phenomena. The Loch Ness Centre will send out a quarterly newsletter on my behalf, sharing updates on upcoming events, possible sightings, research progress, and intriguing discoveries. By joining the mailing list, you’ll be the first to learn about what’s new and exciting around the loch.

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It’s been a busy few months here at Loch Ness, with the LNE community demonstrating an unwavering commitment to uncovering the mystery. This blog complements our newsletter, diving deeper into the stories featured and offering additional insights. These newsletters and blogs mark the beginning of a series we hope will inspire and engage.

If you’d like to join LNE, please visit our Facebook group. With over 4,000 members and growing, it’s a wonderful place to connect with people from around the world who share a passion for Loch Ness.

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The Best of Both Worlds

When you hear the name or read the words ‘Loch Ness,’ it’s impossible not to think about the Loch Ness Monster. In many ways, the ‘Monster’ element takes the spotlight over the natural environment, but regardless of what you believe or feel, the mystery of the Loch Ness Monster remains strong. Both the mystery and the loch itself continue to attract Nessie enthusiasts and members of the scientific community alike. For me, that’s a win-win scenario!

Earlier this year, we had the privilege of experiencing something new and ground-breaking. The University of Aberdeen visited The Loch Ness Centre, bringing with them state-of-the-art technology— weeHoloCam. This compact, advanced subsea holographic camera can rapidly capture 3D images of marine organisms and micro particles. A single 30-minute underwater deployment can generate close to 100,000 images, making it a game changer for studying plankton and other micro particles.

This was the first time weeHoloCam was used in a freshwater environment like Loch Ness. Over four hours, we deployed the camera at various locations and depths, including a maximum depth of 188m. Using advanced technology, the camera’s data allowed them to reconstruct 3D images of microscopic lifeforms. Exploring these results in real time was absolutely fascinating and a privilege to be part of.

Shedding Light on the Mystery

As new theories emerge, they not only explore the possibility of an unknown creature living in the loch but also open up new avenues for understanding Loch Ness’s history and ecology. Regardless of personal beliefs, I feel that we owe the Loch Ness Monster a special thanks. Without it, we wouldn’t have this incredible catalogue of knowledge created by those who have come before us.

We recently set out to capture one of these natural explanations while patrolling the shoreline of Loch Ness and aboard Deepscan with skipper Ali Matheson. Our mission: to observe and document standing waves. LNE member Jared Christie joined us for the day. Together, we focused on identifying boat wakes that could produce these waves, which occur when wakes of the same frequency and amplitude interfere with one another.

While we didn’t capture the footage we hoped for, the experience was valuable and gives us more opportunities for future research.

Nocturnal Expeditions

Our most recent expedition took place at night, focusing on observing and recording the natural wildlife that roams the shoreline under cover of darkness. LNE members Jared Christie, Caroline Tollyfield, and Dave Hastings joined me for this weekend adventure, concentrating on Urquhart Bay.

I’ll be back at The Loch Ness Centre in a few weeks for Meet the Expert, where I’ll be available in the final room of the tour to chat, answer your questions, and share exciting updates about what’s coming up this year.

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Recent Sightings

A big thank you to Andrew Williams for sharing fascinating webcam images captured on 5th January 2025 near Shoreland Lodges. The object appeared to move close to shore towards Cherry Island before heading further out into the loch and disappearing. Andy, a regular visitor since the 1980s with a keen eye for natural phenomena, welcomes all thoughts on what it could be.

I’ve enhanced the image quality for clarity—thanks for sharing, Andy!

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Thanks for reading our first newsletter and blog!

Stay tuned for more updates and discoveries.

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Alan McKenna

Loch Ness Exploration