It looks like Mr. Holmes took one year of college studies, to qualify in certain technical areas as well as teacher’s training. No word if he ever went on with his studies, but he ended up being a lab tech, re-booting crashed computers and running Powerpoint, in an academic context that is extremely status-aware. Academics can often be rather insufferably snobbish; this sort of situation always creates an atmosphere of social climbing and status-seeking, elevating insecurities in people who didn’t climb very high. Some invent status as researchers to feel better about their situation. So give the poor guy a break. Being around professors all the time and crunched under their academic jackboots can drive anyone a bit over the edge.

And although it may not be entirely fair to just write this sighting off due to the exceedingly bizarre comments of the man who filmed it, I can’t help but think that Cryptozoology will never be taken seriously in the slightest if this is typical of the average person who has a sighting. This whole incident has done a lot more damage than good to the cause, in my opinion. Not all publicity is good publicity in this case. Let’s put this one to bed and move on.

“I have learned never to ridicule any man’s opinion, however strange it may seem.”- The Captains of the Polestar.

1. Mr. Holmes comes across as a quasi-Fortean, so it surprises me that folks here are dissing him so. In fact, his theories are not so much more far fetched or implausible than notions that the Spicer sighting might have been of a prehistoric whale, dragon, or waterhorse (especially given the fact that the last two are decidedly mythological). So, I second Richard888′s comments above.

2. While it is unfortunate that Holmes is not as believable as the late Dinsdale, this may in fact prove paradoxically beneficial to his case. He is not a die-hard Nessie-believer on a holy grail quest, misidentifying a dingy at a distance, but a fellow apparently lark enough to stumble on to something.

3. What are we really saying here? He faked his video? I don’t know about that. The video was shot at such a wide angle that it is hard to see how he may have faked it. On the other hand, he does mention tow wires! Egads!

4. The film is the most important film yet taken at Ness, I think. It’s enhanced version is classic “Nessie”: single hump, long neck, small head. If it proves to be an otter or seal, then I think the game is up. If it proves to be fake, then it becomes worrisome and casts suspicion on other sightings (especially if Holmes is not in on the hoax). And if the film proves inconclusive, “Nessie” lives to frolic another day.