Largest search for the Loch Ness Monster in 50 years: Why are we still looking?

A view of the Loch Ness Monster, near Inverness, Scotland, April 19, 1934. The photograph, one of two pictures known as the 'surgeon's photographs,' was allegedly taken by Colonel Robert Kenneth Wilson, though it was later exposed as a hoax by one of the participants, Chris Spurling, who, on his deathbed, revealed that the pictures were staged by himself, Marmaduke and Ian Wetherell, and Wilson. References to a monster in Loch Ness date back to St. Columba's biography in 565 AD. More than 1,000 people claim to have seen 'Nessie' and the area is, consequently, a popular tourist attraction. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
A view of the Loch Ness Monster, near Inverness, Scotland, April 19, 1934. The photograph, one of two pictures known as the 'surgeon's photographs,' was allegedly taken by Colonel Robert Kenneth Wilson, though it was later exposed as a hoax by one of the participants, Chris Spurling, who, on his deathbed, revealed that the pictures were staged by himself, Marmaduke and Ian Wetherell, and Wilson. References to a monster in Loch Ness date back to St. Columba's biography in 565 AD. More than 1,000 people claim to have seen 'Nessie' and the area is, consequently, a popular tourist attraction. Photo credit (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

Organizers put together the largest search for the Loch Ness Monster in 50 years this summer. After more than 1,000 years of “Nessie” sightings and no solid proof, why does the legend still hold people’s attention?

Alan McKenna of Loch Ness Exploration and Ken Gerhard, author of The Essential Guide to the Loch Ness Monster and Other Aquatic Cryptids, joined the “Something Offbeat” podcast to explain.

For Gerhard, the fact that no irrefutable evidence has turned up doesn’t mean there isn’t some type of large beast living in the murky Scottish Highlands water.

“That’s what makes it one of the great mysteries of the world,” he said. “You know, the only explanation of that would be – we’re dealing with something that is incredibly rare.”

McKenna, who has been fascinated with the mystery since he was a boy, agrees. That’s why he’s carrying on the search.

“Oh, it’ll be ongoing for years,” he told host Mike Rogers. “Long, long time to come. What we’re trying to achieve anyway, is to build a database of the catalog of the different sounds within Loch Ness, at different areas, at different depths.”

Listen here to learn more.

Each week, “Something Offbeat” takes a deeper look at an unusual headline. If you have suggestions for stories the podcast should cover, send them to us at somethingoffbeat@audacy.com.

Featured Image Photo Credit: (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)