New Photo Said to Capture First Nessie Sighting of 2025

The anomalous shadow reportedly photographed at Loch Ness’s Dores Beach. *(The Loch Ness Centre)*

A photograph shared earlier this month by interactive museum and tour company The Loch Ness Centre is being touted as the first Nessie sighting of 2025.

According to an article posted to the Centre's website, "a witness observed what appeared to be the body of Nessie submerged beneath the calm, still waters of the loch" at Dores Beach in Scotland.

The article describes conditions that day as "ideal for spotting unusual activity, with the water surface perfectly calm and still, offering a clear view of the mysterious occurrence."

The Loch Ness Centre said they reviewed evidence of the sighting, which reportedly lasted several minutes, and are presenting it as the first potential Nessie sighting so far in 2025.

"The sighting, described as part of the body of Nessie submerged beneath the water, has left us intrigued by the possibility of a new glimpse of the legendary creature," the article stated.

Nagina Ishaq, General Manager of the Loch Ness Centre, was quoted as saying:

“We’ve had numerous observations over the years, but this recent sighting has been particularly captivating. The conditions on the day of this sighting were absolutely perfect. This could very well be our first significant sighting of the year, further fueling the mystery surrounding Loch Ness and its most famous resident.”

Furthermore, Alan Mackenna of Loch Ness Exploration said, “It’s fantastic to see the ongoing enthusiasm for scanning the waters of Loch Ness in search of the legendary monster. Whether you’re capturing intriguing sonar readings, spotting unusual surface disturbances, or noticing patterns in the loch’s natural behavior, we’d love to hear from you. Every observation adds to our understanding, whether it’s potential evidence of Nessie or new insights into the loch’s unique ecosystem. Keep sharing your findings—we’re always excited to analyze and explore what they could mean!”

The photograph was shared to the Loch Ness Exploration group on Facebook, where it has been met with skepticism.

Many commenters noted that the artifacts present point to the photo having been enlarged significantly and that what is being shown was likely cropped from a larger image. In addition, the photo lacks a sense of scale or any details that could help identify what is appearing in it.

Popular skeptical explanations for the photo include a rogue wave or the shadow of some object above the water that was cropped out of the photo to make it appear more mysterious.

However, there are some who are convinced that the photo shows an animal or object beneath the surface, reasoning that the coloring and texture of whatever it is doesn’t match that of the surrounding waves. This would be consistent with the witness testimony presented by The Loch Ness Centre.

What might actually be causing the shadow in Loch Ness is anyone’s guess.