Loch Ness Monster camera lost for 55 years finally recovered nearly 600 feet below surface with eerie photos

A camera that was plunged into Loch Ness 55 years ago was recently fished out, along with the photos it took, after it was found by an underwater robot.

The UK’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC) found the old camera about 180 metres deep into Loch Ness still in a protective casing, and incredibly it seems to have been in working order.

The submerged camera is thought to have been one of the earlier attempts to capture a sight of the Loch Ness Monster with underwater photography.

Professor Roy Mackal, of the Loch Ness Investigation Bureau and the University of Chicago, put the camera (a Kodak Instamatic) into Loch Ness all the way back in 1970.

He'd been investigating the Loch Ness Monster since the 1960s and claimed he'd recorded a sighting in 1970, becoming convinced that something was out there.

The camera, recovered from Loch Ness after 55 years (NOC)

He died in 2013 so can't collect his camera, but fortunately Adrian Shine of the Loch Ness Project was on hand to work out who had set up the camera in the first place and explain that it was one of six set up in the Scottish landmark.

It turns out three of the cameras got lost during a gale, but this camera which has been submerged for 55 years is in very good condition.

"It was an ingenious camera trap consisting of a clockwork Instamatic camera with an inbuilt flash cube, enabling four pictures to be taken when a bait line was taken," Shine told the NOC.

"It is remarkable that the housing has kept the camera dry for the past 55 years, lying around 180m deep in Loch Ness."

The camera's film was able to be developed and a few murky photos of Loch Ness were recovered, though sadly no sign of Nessie.

The photos showed what it's like in Loch Ness, but it seems the Monster is camera shy (NOC)

It has since been handed in to The Loch Ness Centre in Drumnadrochit, where it will be put on display as part of the history of the search for the Loch Ness Monster.

General manager Nagina Ishaq said: "It’s been over 90 years since the first sighting of Nessie, since then there have been many expeditions to find the elusive beast.

"We are guardians of this unique story and, as well as investing in creating an unforgettable experience for visitors, we are committed to helping continue the search and unveil the mysteries that lie underneath the waters of the famous Loch.

"We want to say a big thank to NOC for handing over the film and camera, that we believe has been hidden for over 50 years, for everyone to come and discover and be inspired by what could be hidden in the mysterious loch."