27 August 2023 , 16:23
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Loch Ness Monster hunters have heard “four distinctive noises” as around 200 volunteers took part in the biggest search for the mythical creature in 50 years.
In horrific weather conditions volunteers lined the banks of the famous Scottish loch just outside Inverness.
Around 300 people also tuned in the efforts via a livestream over the weekend.
The newly revamped Loch Ness Centre teamed up with Loch Ness Exploration (LNE), an independent and voluntary research team, to carry out the hunt,.
Megan Rough, a marketing executive for the Loch Ness Centre said: “We did not anticipate how much enthusiasm it would generate.
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“We’ve had people emailing us from Australia, from New Zealand, from Canada, America and all across Europe.
It is believed to be the biggest search for Nessie for 50 years (AP)“There’s so much love for Nessie out there.”
Surveying equipment that has never been used on the loch made an appearance, including hydrophones, which will help to detect acoustic signals under the water as well as sonar equipment, which beams light down to the bottom of the loch and then throws back up images of what lie beneath.
There was also a small flotilla out on the water.
Affectionately known as Nessie and popular in Scottish folklore since the 1930s.
Alan McKenna, from Edinburgh, took part on a boat using a hydrophone system,.
He said a test of the system on Friday had already raised questions about Nessie’s whereabouts: “When we were testing the equipment, we did hear four distinctive noises that we didn’t know where it was coming from.
Many people have reported sightings of the creature (Getty Images)“We didn’t know the origin of it was, which is quite exciting.”
Mr McKenna added: “The weather in Scotland was horrific over the weekend, so much so that the Scottish Highland Games were cancelled for the first time in 75 years, but that didn’t stop us - and that didn’t stop our volunteers.
“We’ve had people coming from all over the world.”
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Paul Nixon, general manager of the Loch Ness centre, said he felt there was “something” in the lake worth looking for, adding: “I believe there is something big lurking in the depths of Loch Ness.
“Now I don’t know whether it’s a monster - I don’t know what it is but I reckon there’s something down there.”