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Loch Ness from Deepscan

Wildlife, Exploration, and Scientific Discoveries

11th Sep 2024

As we slowly move into autumn, we’ve been reflecting on the highlights from this year’s spring and summer at The Loch Ness Centre, where wildlife, exploration, and scientific breakthroughs came together to create unforgettable experiences.

The Loch Ness Centre ariel view

Wildlife Watch

One of the standout moments from our Wildlife Watch this year was the incredible sighting of a Pine Marten in a garden near the loch. It’s not too late to share your own wildlife encounters—simply fill out the form to submit your sightings.

Submit your sighting

Pine marten close to Loch Ness

The Quest

In May, we hosted our annual festival, The Quest, filled with four days of adventure and discovery. Highlights included the Deepscan Cruises with Alan McKenna, where participants listened for Nessie, our Surface Watch with Loch Ness Exploration, and the lively debate on Nessie’s existence. There were some exciting moments, too—unexplained noises from the hydrophone and a potential sighting from 11-year-old Evelyn from Fife. Want to join next year’s Quest? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop on upcoming events.

Take a look at The Quest 2025

11-year-old Evelyn submitted a sighting at 16:41 on Saturday 1st June © The Loch Ness Centre
Richard White, Alan Mckenna and Roland Watson at the Live Debate at The Loch Ness Centre
Questers enjoying the weather onboard Deepscan
Skipper Ali with a Questers after their Deepscan trip
Alan Mckenna from Loch Ness Exploration outside The Loch Ness Centre at the end of The Quest 2024

Loch Ness with Alan McKenna

This summer, we continued our Deepscan cruises with Alan McKenna, listening for mysterious sounds with our underwater microphone. The cruises have sparked plenty of conversation and speculation, with unexplained noises adding to the intrigue. If you missed out, there are still a few cruises left this year—join us on Saturday, 28th September or Saturday, 2nd November.

Book today

Alan Mckenna on Deepscan using the hydrophone
Using the Hydrophone onboard Deepscan during The Quest

Sightings

One of the summer’s most curious sightings came from near the castle, where a witness captured what appeared to be vegetation in a photograph, but described an object that could have been an otter or seal. Otters are rarely seen near the castle during the day, and seals are infrequent visitors to Loch Ness, especially at this time of year. While our Skipper, Ali, has been on the lookout, no seals have been reported yet. We continue to investigate this intriguing encounter, keeping a close watch for any further signs of Nessie’s neighbours.

Submit your sighting here

Report a sighting of the Loch Ness Monster - sighting from July 2024

weeHoloCam

One of the most exciting scientific ventures this summer was the deployment of the weeHoloCam, a state-of-the-art holographic camera, in collaboration with the University of Aberdeen. This cutting-edge device captured thousands of images of plankton particles, offering a unique view of Loch Ness’s microscopic life. The findings will help us learn more about the loch’s ecosystem, advancing our understanding of the biodiversity beneath the surface.

Dr. Thangavel Thevar, from the University of Aberdeen’s School of Engineering, expressed excitement about this fresh water study:

“We were curious about the water quality, especially at lower depths. The camera reached 200 metres and revealed fascinating particles that will help us better understand the loch’s biology.”

Nagina Ishaq, General Manager of The Loch Ness Centre, added:

“Our goal is to present the whole story of Loch Ness, from the science to the myths. Partnering with researchers like the team from Aberdeen helps us uncover the mysteries of the loch on a deeper level.”

 

Nagina, General Manager at The Loch Ness Centre, Alan Mckenna from Loch Ness Exploration, Aberdeen Univerity School of Engineering outside the centre with weeHoloCam
Aberdeen University deploying weeHoloCam from Deepscan

Stay tuned for more discoveries later this year as we continue to explore the wonders of Loch Ness!

Be sure to follow us on social media for the latest sightings and updates using #ISeeNessie.

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