A boat captain filmed a creature resembling the Loch Ness Monster in waters off the North Carolina coast. Pic credit: Captain Daniel Griffee via FOX 35 Orlando/YouTube
Loch Ness Monster fans worldwide were left baffled following reports of the beloved lake monster lurking in waters off the North Carolina coast thousands of miles away from its native watery habitat in the Scottish Highlands.
The sighting and other recent ones in North American waters have sparked fanciful theories and speculation that Nessie may have relocated to North America (scroll down to see video).
But others believed the witnesses mistook Nessie’s North American cousin, the Cadborosaurus, for the Scottish lake monster.
Nessie spotted off N. Carolina coast
Multiple North Carolina residents reported spotting a serpentine marine monster at Atlantic Beach, a town on the Atlantic Coast in Carteret County. Many believed what they saw was none other than the Loch Ness Monster.
Witnesses said the creature swam along the coast with its head above the water. Some reported it first showed its head before showing its back. It broke the surface briefly before diving back into the depths.
The witnesses commented on the striking resemblance between the mysterious sea creature and eyewitness descriptions of the Scottish lake monster.
Boat captain filmed Loch Ness Monster in N. Carolina waters
Footage showing the alleged dark serpentine creature swimming in waters off the North Carolina coast first emerged on social media early last year.
Charter boat Captain Daniel Griffee shared the viral video, which caused a stir among Nessie fans.
The Facebook account of Chasin Tails Outdoors Bait & Tackle store first shared Griffee’s video, with the accompanying comment, “Something you don’t see everyday… whales or the Lock (sic) Ness Monster in the port this morning, never seen one inside the inlet like this!”
Reactions on social media
The footage received a mixed reaction on social media.
Many Nessie enthusiasts praised the cameraman for capturing high-quality and convincing footage and said it offered conclusive proof of the legendary sea monster.
Even skeptics agreed that the video appeared to show a mysterious sea monster. But others suggested more mundane alternatives, such as an alligator, whale, oarfish, or manatee.
“Appreciate how professional the camera man was he kept quiet and kept filming. Pure gold,” A Facebook user commented.
“It’s a North Atlantic right whale calf, sadly by itself. All the proper folks are aware,” another said.
“The more I look at it, the more I think it is a large gator,” a third person responded.
“It’s definitely a manatee,” a skeptic wrote.
“Saw a video of oarfish yesterday. They are deep, deep sea but sometimes they surface. This looks very similiar,” another skeptic chimed in.
A user defended their opinion that it was a Nessie-like monster.
“No way it is any of the animals mentioned, including a ‘baby whale’ or alligator. Its motion is too graceful, it has protrusions on the head and a long feather-like flipper in the rear,” the user explained. “I honestly don’t know of any sea creature that fits that description.”
Has the Loch Ness Monster migrated to North America?
The spate of reported sightings of creatures resembling the legendary Loch Ness Monster in North American waters has sparked speculation among enthusiasts.
Nessie fans want an explanation of the recent upsurge in Nessie sightings in North America.
Paranormal Papers reported that a teenager from Florida reported snapping a photo of Nessie in Bow River while visiting Alberta’s Banff National Park in 2017.
The alleged sightings sparked speculation that Nessie might have migrated from the British Isles to the North American continent.