Sonar Detects Mysterious 30ft-Long Shape 500ft Beneath Loch Ness
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A sailor stumbled across a mysterious 30ft long mass lurking 500ft beneath Loch Ness.
Ronald Mackenzie, who runs Cruise Loch Ness, detected the 'creature' using his boat's sonar at around 4pm last Wednesday (30 September).
The 48-year-old is now certain that something big is living deep down, feeding on trout and eels.
Mr Mackenzie said: "Who knows what it is, there is quite a lot of fish at the bottom of the loch, there is carnivorous trout and eels.
"I believe that there is something big living deep down in the Loch, who knows what it can be but I would love to think it's Nessie.
"It is something which is feeding on eels or trout. It is quite unusual."
The father-of-three went on: "A sonar expert has looked at it and says it's genuine. There is definitely something there.
"I'm going to give the image to the company which made the equipment to look at."
Mr McKenzie says the images were picked up about six miles from Fort August, and passengers were looking at birds when he checked the monitor and saw it.
He told the Sun: "We were at our halfway point off Invermoriston, where we turn around. The water is 620ft deep there.
"The passengers were quite excited because we had just spotted a sea eagle, but then I saw on the sonar something more eye-catching.
"It was right in the middle of the loch at about 558ft down. It was big - at least 33ft. The contact lasted 10 seconds while we passed over.
"I've been on the loch since I was 16 years old and I have never seen anything like it.
"We have real state-of-the-art sonar on the new boat. It doesn't lie. It captures what's there.
"All the dots nearer the surface are shoals of Arctic char and deeper down there are ferox trout, so it gives you a good idea of the size of this large crescent shape."
And while he's not certain that what he came across was the infamous monster, Mr McKenzie told the Daily Record that it's certainly built up some excitement.
He said: "I do believe large sturgeon do enter Loch Ness. It may be a sturgeon or a small shoal of fish.
"But it is certainly a fascinating and interesting contact and without doubt it further adds to the debate about Nessie."
However, he is hopeful that this latest find will not see an army of Nessie-hunters descend on the loch.
He added: "It is not usual for us to pick up a big contact on the sonar. It is quite modern equipment."
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