In a world where most Loch Ness Monster sightings are shrouded in myth and blurry legends, one man believes he’s just caught something truly special—and this time, it’s all on video.
Eoin O’Faodhagain, a dedicated Nessie watcher from County Donegal in Ireland, was monitoring the loch through a live webcam when something in the water caught his eye.
What followed, he claims, was nothing short of “spectacular.”
A Ripple in the Calm: The Moment Something Broke the Surface
Eoin says the encounter happened on May 7, near the northern end of Loch Ness.
He was casually watching the water through a webcam hosted by the Clansman Hotel—something he often does from his home across the Irish Sea. But this time, the usual calm view took a sudden turn.
“As I was watching, I noticed a
large disturbance in the usually peaceful waters,” he explained.
“It was less than 100 feet from the Clansman Hotel pier.
Then, all of a sudden, a creature emerged—it came up a few feet, then slipped quickly back under.”
Luckily, Eoin had already hit record.
On Camera: A Brief But Striking Appearance
In the short clip he captured, the creature appears just long enough to reveal something incredibly distinct: a long neck and a noticeable hump just behind it. It was, he says, unmistakable.
“I immediately thought it had to be Nessie,” he recalled. “It was way too big to be anything else.
It didn’t look like an otter or a seal, and I’ve never seen a fish with a neck like that.”
The moment left him speechless—but thrilled. “I was stunned.
Overjoyed. For the first time, I might’ve gotten a clear shot of the Loch Ness Monster.”
Could It Be a Baby Nessie?
Eoin is convinced that what he saw wasn’t just Nessie—it was a younger version of the legendary creature.
In his view, the creature’s size and behavior hint at a juvenile still learning to hunt.
“I think it was a baby Nessie, playing with its prey—most likely a fish—before it ate it,” he said.
“If I’m right, this could be the first time we’ve ever seen Nessie in the act of hunting on a live webcam.”
A Long-Time Believer With Another Entry in the Sightings Register
Eoin, 60, isn’t new to this. Over the years, he’s submitted several sightings to the Official Loch Ness Monster Sightings Register—a publicly available database that keeps track of every recorded sighting.
But even for a seasoned watcher like him, this latest footage stands out.
“This sighting is one of a kind,” he said. “Watching it happen in real time—this short, stunning moment—it was surreal.”
The Timing: Just Before a Big Nessie Search Event
Interestingly, this sighting comes right before a wave of Nessie hunters are expected to gather in the Highlands.
An annual event called The Quest is returning for its third year, running from May 22 to May 25, where groups of enthusiasts will descend on Loch Ness in hopes of spotting the elusive creature.
Those who can’t attend in person can still watch the webcams live at visitinvernesslochness.com.
The Long History of Nessie Lore
Sightings of something unusual in Loch Ness go back centuries.
One of the earliest reports dates all the way back to AD 565, when Irish missionary St. Columba allegedly encountered a “giant beast” in the River Ness.
The modern fascination, however, began in 1933, when a local couple told the Inverness Courier they saw a massive animal “rolling and plunging” on the loch’s surface.
The story sparked what’s now known as Nessie fever.
Famous Photos and Faked Evidence
Perhaps the most iconic (and controversial) image came from 1934, when Colonel Robert Kenneth Wilson took the infamous photo of what looked like a long-necked creature.
Years later, it was revealed to be a hoax.
Other notable sightings include Hugh Gray’s blurry 1933 photo, which shows a strange sea-creature-like figure, and James Gray’s 2001 picture, taken during a fishing trip with a friend.
So What Is the Loch Ness Monster?
Despite decades of searching, no definitive proof of Nessie has ever been found.
Some believe it could be a plesiosaur—a long-necked marine reptile from the dinosaur era that somehow survived extinction.
Others have more grounded explanations. For instance, Steve Feltham, a full-time Nessie researcher, suggested in 2019 that the sightings might actually be of a giant Wels catfish, which can grow to impressive sizes and are native to Eastern Europe.
Scientific Theories Range From Fish to Floating Logs
Some theories get even weirder. It’s been suggested that floating logs, especially from dead Scottish pines, could be responsible.
These logs can sink, gather gases from decomposition, and then suddenly shoot back to the surface—creating a momentary illusion of something living coming up for air.
Other explanations involve large fish like sturgeon, which have ridged backs and can look bizarrely prehistoric in the right lighting.
The Mystery Lives On
Over 1,000 sightings have been recorded in the Official Loch Ness Monster Register, and the legend continues to captivate people all over the world.
Whether it’s a fish, a log, or a prehistoric survivor, the Loch Ness Monster remains one of the world’s most enduring mysteries.
And thanks to people like Eoin O’Faodhagain—armed with webcams and patience—we may still one day get a clear answer. Or maybe, just maybe, we already have.