A strange natural phenomenon may reveal the secret behind the Loch Ness Monster, according to an expert researcher.
Alan McKenna, founder of Loch Ness Exploration (LNE), believes that ‘standing waves’ could explain the sightings of the mythical monster.
He said: ‘Standing waves occur when two boats wake with the same frequency and amplitude moving in the same direction on land.
‘When two wakes finally meet and interfere with each other the result has the potential to create standing waves.’
The crests of standing waves, rising above calm water, can be mistaken for ‘crests’ on land.
Photographs taken by Mr McKenna show the scene where the river meets the south coast, at Fort Augustus.
But catching a standing wave from a boat and getting up on open water is much more difficult.
Alan said: ‘The tide and the boat’s height should be the same.
A strange natural phenomenon may reveal the secret behind the Loch Ness Monster, according to a researcher.
Alan McKenna, the founder of Loch Ness Exploration (LNE), believes that ‘standing waves’ could explain the sighting of the mythical monster.
‘So with all of this in mind, there’s a lot to consider here such as the boat itself, its size, where it’s going and how fast it’s going.
‘A small boat with a small engine produces a different wake than a very large boat.
‘It’s a difficult process, especially in open water, but it can be done.’
Mr McKenna now hopes to capture what is happening inside the heart of the loch.
He said: ‘Ali Matheson, Deepscan’s ambassador, often says the tide is standing still, but especially on the shores of Urquhart Bay, also known as Temple Pier.
‘It’s all good, but it’s very difficult to catch standing waves in open water.
‘We know that standing waves exist and have been reported but what we don’t have are photographs that show natural waves in motion.’
He continued: ‘Since I started LNE, I have always hoped to capture as many natural events as possible.
The crests of standing waves, rising above calm water, can be mistaken for ‘crests’ on the surface of the water.
Mr McKenna now hopes to capture what is happening inside the heart of the loch
‘It’s as far-fetched, in my opinion, as most Nessie reports can be.
‘Without being disrespectful, I like to follow reports made by local people and the reason is that they see Loch Ness every day.
‘I dare say they are more experienced than the tourists.
‘If you are not familiar with Loch Ness and its natural beauty then I believe many people will be fooled by the water and other illusions – it is easily done!’
When it comes to the existence of a fictional monster, however, Alan is keeping an open mind.
The 37-year-old said: “If there are unknown animals in Loch Ness then they don’t play by the rules.
It is the perfect place for a shy animal with 23 miles of cold black water and around 750ft deep.
‘You can swim next to a submarine 200ft below the surface and not even notice in front of you, it’s dark!’
He continued: ‘When I was young and in my childhood, I was a big believer in the Plesiosaur theory.
‘But the more you research the Loch Ness story the more unlikely the theory becomes – sorry folks.
‘We’ve had a lot of ‘Nessie’ potentials such as huge giants, seals, Greenland sharks, sturgeon, catfish and many more.
‘But truth be told, none of us have the right answer and that’s what keeps this secret.’
The LNE is an independent, dedicated research group focusing on Loch Ness, its natural environment, and the mythical monster.
Mr McKenna said: ‘We are inviting anyone who has a genuine interest in the loch to join the group. It is not just about ‘Nessie’ as Loch Ness is much more than that.
‘We have a great mix of people in the LNE group and I believe it’s different.’
What is the Loch Ness Monster?
Rumors of a strange creature living in the waters of Loch Ness have abounded over the decades, but there is little evidence to support these claims.
One of the first sightings, believed to be the cause of the modern Nessie syndrome, came on May 2, 1933.
On this day, the Inverness Courier had a story about a local family who claimed to have seen ‘a large animal roll over and land’.
Another notable sighting is a photograph taken in 1934 by Colonel Robert Kenneth Wilson.
It was later revealed to be a hoax by one of the participants, Chris Spurling, who, on his deathbed, revealed that the photos were staged.
Other sightings include James Gray’s 2001 photo of him and his friend Peter Levings fishing in the Loch, while Hugh Gray’s vague description of what appears to be a large sea creature was published in the Daily Express in 1933.
Robert Kenneth Wilson, a doctor from London, drew the famous picture of the Loch Ness Monster. A photo of the doctor was published in the Daily Mail on April 21, 1934 – however it was later proven to be a fake.
The first reported sighting of the monster is said to have been made in AD565 by the Irish missionary St Columba when he encountered a large monster in the River Ness.
But no one has ever given a convincing explanation of what they saw – even in 2019, ‘Nessie expert’ Steve Feltham, who has been watching the Loch for 24 years, said he thought it was a giant Wels Catfish, born in nearby waters. The Baltic and Caspian seas in Europe.
The online register lists over 1,000 Nessie sightings, created by Mr Campbell, the man behind the Official Loch Ness Monster Fan Club and available at www.lochnesssightings.com.
So what could explain these amazing things?
Many of Nessie’s witnesses have reported large crocodile-like wounds on the creature’s back, leading some to believe that an escaped amphibian may have been responsible.
Sturgeon fish can weigh several hundred pounds and have spines, giving them a reptilian appearance.
Some believe that Nessie is a long-necked plesiosaur – like an elasmosaur – that somehow survived when all the other dinosaurs were wiped out.
Some say the phenomenon is down to Scottish pine trees dying and entering the shelters, before being cut off by the water and drowned.
While in the water, the botanicals begin to absorb air particles.
Eventually, enough of these are collected to propel the log upward as deep pressures begin to change its shape, creating the shape of an animal coming into space.
