Dream of being a monster hunter? New search for mythical Loch Ness creature needs volunteers

A tourism group says it's running the largest search for Nessie in decades.

August 5, 2023, 3:42 PM

Monster hunters, assemble! The Loch Ness Centre announced it's set to begin the biggest search in over 50 years for the mythical creature known as Nessie -- and volunteers are needed.

In partnership with research team Loch Ness Exploration, the tourist attraction is looking for volunteers to join in a search for the legendary monster from Aug. 26- 27. The search is dubbed the biggest of its kind since the Loch Ness Investigation Bureau studied the lake in 1972, it said.

PHOTO: In this July 6, 2023, file photo, visitors look at the water of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands.
In this July 6, 2023, file photo, visitors look at the water of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands.
Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images, FILE

"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. 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," the Loch Ness Centre said in an announcement on its website.

The Loch Ness Centre is looking for volunteers to take part in a surface watch of the Loch, to keep an eye out for breaks in the water and any "inexplicable movements."

PHOTO: This undated file photo shows a shadowy shape that some people say is a the Loch Ness monster in Scotland.
This undated file photo shows a shadowy shape that some people say is a the Loch Ness monster in Scotland. The Loch Ness Centre in Scotland is calling for "budding monster hunters" and volunteers to join in what it dubs the largest search for the Loch Ness Monster since the 1970s.
AP, FILE

Volunteers will be briefed on what to look out for and how to record findings.

Tickets are also being sold for four cruises available over the weekend, with the opportunity to use a 60-foot hydrophone to listen for noises in the loch.

The mythical creature is said to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish highlands, according to local folklore. Reported sightings and a series of disputed photos depict a dinosaur-like beast with a long neck. Previous attempts to find the creature have yielded scant evidence of its existence.