This past weekend, an influx of monster enthusiasts descended upon the Scottish Highlands, joining the annual hunt for the elusive Loch Ness Monster. This year’s event featured a high-tech twist, with participants employing an underwater drone to explore the lake’s shadowy depths.
The annual event, organized by the Loch Ness Experience, commenced on Thursday, welcoming a diverse group of visitors, from passionate believers to tech-savvy companies. These attendees converged on the 23-mile expanse of water, particularly focusing on Urquhart Bay, with hopes of unearthing evidence of the legendary creature, famously elusive and rarely captured on film, as reported by The Standard.
“Loch Ness has a magnetic allure that draws people in, whether they are staunch believers, intrigued skeptics, or simply enchanted by the enigma,” remarked Nagina Ishaq, the general manager of the Loch Ness Experience, in an interview with the outlet.
Ishaq further noted, “The fact that 2026 has already witnessed new sightings underscores the enduring fascination with Nessie.”
In a bid to uncover the truth, Deep Sea Vision deployed its autonomous underwater drone, dubbed Micro Millie, to meticulously map the concealed floor of Urquhart Bay over the weekend-long event.
Urquhart Bay remains a favored spot for monster hunters due to its diverse underwater landscapes, its proximity to the historic Urquhart Castle, and its status as a recent hotspot for alleged Nessie sightings.
The drone used advanced sensors and autonomous programming to map the loch bed in unprecedented detail, however, no sighting of the mythical creature was reported.
Alan McKenna, of the independent Loch Ness Exploration research group, said the weekend offered a rare chance to examine the loch “from different perspectives,” from what is happening on the surface to what may be taking place beneath it.
“For the public, it is a brilliant opportunity to get directly involved and play a meaningful part in the weekend,” McKenna said.
