What is thought to be the biggest ever hunt for Nessie is under way in the famous body of water, with enthusiasts using new techniques to try to decipher the decades old myth.

Dozens of people placed themselves around the lake in the pouring rain at 17 observation posts, and were encouraged to write down anomalies and other behaviour on the water.

A hydrophone, an underwater microphone, as well as thermal imaging and drones were all deployed in the hunt for the beast.

Speaking to Sky News, volunteer Craig Gallifrey said that, while he held some scepticism of what could be in the depths, he was determined to get to the bottom of it.

"I believe there is something in the loch," he said.

"I do think that there's got to be something that's fuelling the speculation.

"There's still other things, although they've not been proven. There's still something quite special about the loch."

Speaking earlier to the BBC, Alan McKenna from the Loch Ness Centre said he wanted to "inspire a new generation of Loch Ness enthusiasts".

He added volunteers were "looking for breaks in the surface and asking volunteers to record all manner of natural behaviour on the loch".

"Not every ripple or wave is a beastie. Some of those can be explained, but there are handful that cannot," he said.

Among those on the water was boat skipper Ali Matheson, who had underwater imaging equipment on his vessel to try and spot what was going on below the surface.

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The Loch Ness Centre is located at the old Drumnadrochit Hotel, where it is said manageress Aldie Mackay reported seeing a "water beast" in Loch Ness 90 years ago.

The story sparked a global and long-lasting fascination with finding the elusive monster, spawning hoaxes and hundreds of eyewitness accounts.

Numerous theories have been put forward over the years, including that the creature may have been a plesiosaur, a prehistoric marine reptile, a giant eel or even a swimming circus elephant.