Submarine
Investigations
Photo Copyright Dick Raynor 1994, 2000: The Loch Ness Submarine in 1994
Submarines, or "submersibles" of various
sizes and designs have been operated in Loch Ness since the 1960's. This one
carried fare paying passengers during the summers of 1994 and 1995.
Photo Copyright Dick Raynor 1994, 2000
It is difficult to see more than a very few metres, even when the sub has a
large forward viewing port like this one. The external lights cast a yellow glow
on the loch bottom, while inside, the crew members use red lighting to maintain
their "dark adaptation". Machines like this, adapted from a "diver lock-out
submersible" are usually "flown" just a few inches above the bottom, at a speed
of about one mile per hour. This enables the pilots to stop within their "seeing
distance" and so avoid obstacles and possible entanglement on debris. This
vehicle carried a life-support capability for a full crew of six for over one
week. This photo was taken at a depth of 450 feet.
Earlier Subs
Photo by Dick Raynor. Copyright 1969, 2000
Temple Pier, Summer 1969
This evening photo shows Dan S. Taylor's first Loch Ness sub, "Viperfish" on its launching trailer. At the end of the pontoon can be seen Tim Dinsdale's camouflaged boat "Water Horse", and the LNI support boat "Fussy Hen", painted orange so we could find it.
Photo Copyright Holly Arnold 1969, 2000.
Dan Taylor's submersible Viperfish undergoing maintenance at Temple Pier,
1969
Another view of "Viperfish" being attended to by LNI staff member Martin Wilde. The one-man sub was the focus of much attention, and in both pictures the compressed air powered biopsy darts can be seen. These were intended to take a tissue sample of any large animal encountered in the loch. At the same time as Viperish was at the loch, Vickers Oceanics was testing a much larger Pisces class 3 -man submersible and was occupying Temple Pier itself, which is why Viperfish was relegated to a smaller jetty.
Photo by Dick Raynor. Copyright 2010
In 2010 Viperfish returned to Loch Ness and is now at the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition in Drumnadrochit, where she is seen here in her element, just after arrival and after a lick of paint, below.
Photo Copyright Dick Raynor 2011
In 1973 another Vickers "boat" was brought to the loch for a series of fresh-water trials, this time under the auspices of the Academy of Applied Science. A PC8B, it could carry 3 people, and was the first sub at Loch Ness to have a large viewing port at the front, giving the occupants an excellent view of the loch bottom. It is pictured here on the jetty at Corpach, near Fort William.
Photo Copyright Dick Raynor, 1973, 2000
Vickers submersible PC8 used at Loch Ness in 1973.