The mystery of the Loch Ness Monster may finally be solved – expert claims he has a simple explanation for the mythical beast’s sightings

A strange natural phenomenon could unravel the mystery of the Loch Ness Monster sightings, according to an expert researcher.

Alan McKenna, founder of Loch Ness Exploration (LNE), believes elusive ‘standing waves’ could explain sightings of the mythical monster.

He said: ‘A standing wave is created when two boats move in opposite directions across the surface of the lake with exactly the same frequency and amplitude.

“If the two boats eventually meet and interfere with each other, the results could create a standing wave.”

The crests of these standing waves, which rise above the otherwise calm water, can be mistaken for ‘bumps’ above the surface.

Footage taken by Mr McKenna shows the phenomenon occurring where a river meets the lake on the southern shore, at Fort Augustus.

But capturing a standing wave caused by a boat waking on open water is more challenging.

Alan said: ‘The waves and the wake of the boat should be identical.

A strange natural phenomenon could unravel the mystery of the Loch Ness Monster sightings, according to an expert researcher

Alan McKenna, founder of Loch Ness Exploration (LNE), believes elusive ‘standing waves’ could explain sightings of the mythical monster

‘So with all that in mind there is now a lot more to it, such as the boat itself, its size, the direction of travel and the current speed.

‘A small boat with a smaller engine will certainly produce a different wake than a much larger boat.

“It’s a complex procedure, especially in open water, but it can happen.”

Mr McKenna now hopes to capture the phenomenon happening deep in the heart of the lake.

He said: ‘Ali Matheson, skipper of Deepscan, regularly reports standing waves, but mainly in the small marina in Urquhart Bay, also known as Temple Pier.

‘That’s all well and good, but in open water it’s harder to capture a standing wave.

‘We know standing waves exist and they have been reported, but what we don’t have is the footage of a natural standing wave in motion.’

He continued: ‘Since the launch of LNE, it has always been my hope to capture as many natural phenomena as possible.

Peaks of standing waves, rising above the otherwise calm water, can be mistaken for ‘bumps’ above the surface

Mr McKenna now hopes to capture the phenomenon happening deep in the heart of the lake

“It’s a process of elimination in my opinion, which is how most potential ‘Nessie’ reports can be explained.

‘Without being disrespectful, I tend to follow the posts of the locals, and the reason for this is that they see Loch Ness every day.

‘I dare say that they have more knowledge than tourists.

‘If you’re not familiar with Loch Ness and its natural behavior, I believe many people will be fooled by the water and certain illusions – it’s easy to do!’

But when it comes to the existence of the legendary beast, Alan is open minded.

The 37-year-old said: ‘If there are unknown animals in Loch Ness then they are certainly not following the rules.

‘It is the perfect habitat for a shy animal with 37 kilometers of cold, dark water and about 230 meters deep.

“You could swim next to a submarine 200 feet below the surface and not even notice it right in front of you, it’s that dark!”

He continued, “When I was young, and throughout my youth, I fully believed in the Plesiosaur theory.

‘But the more you investigate the story of Loch Ness, the more unlikely that theory becomes – sorry folks.

‘We have had many potential candidates for ‘Nessie’ over the years, such as giant eel, long-neck seal, Greenland shark, large sturgeon, catfish and many others.

“But honestly, none of us have the right answer and that perpetuates this mystery.”

LNE is an independent, voluntary research group focusing on Loch Ness, its natural environment and its ecology, as well as the mythical monster.

Mr McKenna said: ‘We invite anyone to join this group who has a genuine interest in the lake. It’s not just about ‘Nessie’, because Loch Ness is much more than that.

“We have a great mix of individuals in the LNE group and I believe it is diverse.”

What IS the Loch Ness Monster?

Rumors of a strange creature living in the waters of Loch Ness have abounded in recent decades, but little evidence has been found to substantiate these claims.

One of the first sightings, believed to have sparked modern Nessie fever, occurred on May 2, 1933.

On this date the Inverness Courier carried a story about a local couple who claimed to have seen ‘a huge animal rolling and crashing on the surface’.

Another famous sighting is a photograph taken in 1934 by Colonel Robert Kenneth Wilson.

It was later exposed as a hoax by one of the participants, Chris Spurling, who revealed on his deathbed that the photos had been staged.

Other sightings include James Gray’s 2001 photo when he and friend Peter Levings were fishing on the Loch, while namesake Hugh Gray’s blurry photo of what appears to be a large sea creature was published in the Daily Express in 1933.

Robert Kenneth Wilson, a London doctor, captured perhaps the most famous image of the Loch Ness Monster. The surgeon’s photo was published in the Daily Mail on April 21, 1934, but it was later revealed to be a fake.

The first reported sighting of the monster is said to have been made in 565 AD by the Irish missionary St. Columba, when he encountered a gigantic beast in the River Ness.

But no one has ever come up with a satisfactory explanation for the sightings – although ‘Nessie expert’ Steve Feltham, who has been watching the Loch for 24 years, said in 2019 that he thought it was actually a giant Welsh catfish, native to waters near the Baltic and Caspian Seas in Europe.

An online register lists a total of more than 1,000 Nessie sightings made by Mr Campbell, the man behind the official Loch Ness Monster Fan Club, and is available at www.lochnesssightings.com.

So what could explain these mysterious observations?

Many Nessie witnesses have reported large, crocodile-like scales sitting atop the creature’s spine, leading some to believe that an escaped amphibian could be the culprit.

Native fish sturgeons can also weigh hundreds of pounds and have ridged backs, giving them an almost reptilian appearance.

Some believe Nessie is a long-necked plesiosaur – like an elasmosaur – who somehow survived when all other dinosaurs were wiped out.

Others say the sightings are related to Scotch pines dying and flopping into the lake, before quickly becoming submerged and sinking.

While underwater, botanical chemicals begin to trap small air bubbles.

Eventually enough of these are collected to propel the block upwards, while deep pressure begins to change its shape, making it look like an animal is coming up for air.