A monster search for Nessie the Loch Ness Monster will begin in the coming weeks, as the Loch Ness Centre in Drumnadrochit, Scotland, enlists the help of a global community of citizen scientists in the search of a “water beast”. The search party will include drone pilots and beady-eyed observers conducting a surface watch of the loch over two days.
They’ll be on the lookout for anything breaking the loch’s surface and strange movements within the body of water as part of the biggest search for Nessie in 50 years. The Cuvier’s beaked whale holds the current record for diving mammals, staying beneath the surface beyond two hours. It figures that if Nessie is in there, chances are she should need to break the loch’s surface at least once during the two-day watch party (unless she's actually a giant eel).
The Quest Weekend, as it’s been named, kicks off between August 26 and 27, and is the biggest of its kind since the Loch Ness Investigation Bureau (LNIB) studied the Loch in 1972. Calling all monster hunters, The Quest Weekend hopes its search may be more fruitful thanks to new technologies.
“Over the weekend, surveying equipment that has never been used on Loch Ness before will be enlisted to uncover the secrets of the mysterious waters,” reads The Quest Weekend’s website. “This includes thermal drones to produce thermal images of the water from the air using infrared cameras, as observing heat from above could provide a crucial component for identifying any mysterious anomalies. Finally, a hydrophone will be used to detect acoustic signals under the water, listening for any Nessie-like calls, as well as further technology in the hunt for the truth.”
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