The existence of Scotland’s legendary Loch Ness Monster has been hotly-debated for nearly a century.
Affectionately referred to as Nessie, the large marine creature is said to inhabit the freshwater loch south of Inverness.
If you believe in the monster, the idea of getting paid to look for it might sound too good to be true.
But it’s time to dust off the old CV, because the Loch Ness research centre has announced that it is hiring a full-time Nessie hunter.
‘Could you be a full-time Nessie hunter?’ the Loch Ness Centre asked on its Facebook page.
‘The Loch Ness Centre is looking for an adventurous skipper to navigate the world-famous waters of Loch Ness and lead our Deepscan Cruise!
‘You’ll share the story of Nessie, guide guests using state-of-the-art sonar, and be part of cutting-edge research in search of the legendary monster.’
Best of all, the job has an impressive salary, with the sucessful candidate set to receive £180/day – the equivalent of £46,898/year!
The existence of Scotland’s legendary Loch Ness Monster has been hotly-debated for nearly a century
The Loch Ness research centre has announced that it is hiring a full-time Nessie hunter
The Skipper will work on board the Deepscan vessel, and is tasked with making tours of the loch ‘memorable’ for the 12 guests on board.
Unsurprisingly, the successful candidate must have demonstrable boating experience.
‘You will possess a passion for boating and a strong understanding of maritime operations,’ the job advert says.
‘Responsible for navigating and operating our vessel, you will ensure the safety of all passengers whilst providing an enjoyable experience on the water.
‘This role requires excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to respond effectively to changing conditions.’
During the boat trips, the Skipper will also be expected to keep the guests entertained with stories about Nessie.
‘Representing the Loch Ness Centre brand you will be sharing your insights and knowledge, you will give our guests a unique and unparalleled perspective on famous sightings of the monster and the history of Scotland’s most mysterious loch,’ the job advert adds.
The fixed term contract runs from 31 March – 2 November, with 30-40 hours available per week.
The Skipper will work on board the Deepscan vessel, and is tasked with making tours of the loch ‘memorable’ for the 12 guests on board
However, during the interview process, applicants ‘may be able to explore additional opportunities that may make this a year-round role’.
The successful applicant will face stiff competition from skippers with rival companies, who also have their eyes peeled for Nessie.
In September, Shaun Sloggie, a skipper with Cruise Loch Ness, hit the headlines after spotting a mysterious shape on sonar.
While preparing for another vessel’s arrival, Sloggie’s sonar flashed up, indicating that a large object was lurking at a depth of around 98-metres.
He described it as ‘the biggest thing I’ve ever seen.’
While its source remains unclear, Sloggie, 30, admitted he had ‘never seen anything like it’.
‘The strangeness of it was chilling – it’s the sort of thing that leaves you speechless,’ he said.
If you’re interested in becoming a full-time Nessie hunter, you can apply here.
What IS the Loch Ness Monster?
Rumours of a strange creature living in the waters of Loch Ness have abounded over the decades, yet scant evidence has been found to back up these claims.
One of the first sightings, believed to have fuelled modern Nessie fever, came in May 2, 1933.
On this date the Inverness Courier carried a story about a local couple who claim to have seen ‘an enormous animal rolling and plunging on the surface’.
Another famous claimed sighting is a photograph taken in 1934 by Colonel Robert Kenneth Wilson.
It was later exposed as a hoax by one of the participants, Chris Spurling, who, on his deathbed, revealed that the pictures were staged.
Other sightings James Gray’s picture from 2001 when he and friend Peter Levings were out fishing on the Loch, while namesake Hugh Gray’s blurred photo of what appears to be a large sea creature was published in the Daily Express in 1933.
Robert Kenneth Wilson, a London physician, captured arguably the most famous image of the Loch Ness Monster. The surgeon’s photograph was published in the Daily Mail on April 21, 1934 – however it was later proven to be a fake
The first reported sighting of the monster is said to have been made in AD565 by the Irish missionary St Columba when he came across a giant beast in the River Ness.
But no one has ever come up with a satisfactory explanation for the sightings – although in 2019, ‘Nessie expert’ Steve Feltham, who has spent 24 years watching the Loch, said he thought it was actually a giant Wels Catfish, native to waters near the Baltic and Caspian seas in Europe.
An online register lists more than 1,000 total Nessie sightings, created by Mr Campbell, the man behind the Official Loch Ness Monster Fan Club and is available at www.lochnesssightings.com.
So what could explain these mysterious sightings?
Many Nessie witnesses have mentioned large, crocodile-like scutes sitting atop the spine of the creature, leading some to believe an escaped amphibian may be to blame.
Native fish sturgeons can also weigh several hundred pounds and have ridged backs, which make them look almost reptilian.
Some believe Nessie is a long-necked plesiosaur – like an elasmosaur – that survived somehow when all the other dinosaurs were wiped out.
Others say the sightings are down to Scottish pines dying and flopping into the loch, before quickly becoming water-logged and sinking.
While submerged, botanical chemicals start trapping tiny bubbles of air.
Eventually, enough of these are gathered to propel the log upward as deep pressures begin altering its shape, giving the appearance of an animal coming up for air.
