This is the spectacular moment two giant blue whales appeared in front of a tourist boat in California.

The marine mammals emerged from the water as the boat passed by the area like the pair was greeting them in Newport Beach on June 14.

Excited tourists and crew of the whale watching boats cheered as the creatures flapped their huge bodies in and out of the water.

The boat maintained a safe distance from the animals to avoid scaring them away and the whales continued feeding on the surface.

Jessica Roame, Education Manager for Davey’s Locker & Newport Landing Whale Watching, said: ‘Blue whales are the largest animal to have ever lived on planet Earth! They are larger than any dinosaur, weighing over 360,000lbs and can be over 80ft long.

‘We’re very lucky in Newport Beach to have a consistent summer migration of blue whales to Orange County, as there are only estimated to be about 2,000 blue whales in the Pacific Ocean, and globally about 11,000.

‘These two blue whales were seen on two consistent whale watching trips into the late afternoon yesterday, separated from each other by about 1 mile.

‘As they lifted their massive 25ft wide flukes to dive, they would hold their breath for about ten minutes as they searched for food in the area.

‘We don’t know how long these two giants will stick around, but it’s definitely a good sign that more Blue Whales may make their way to Newport this summer.’

Although they are enormous blue whales are not predatory and do not pose a threat to humans. They filter feed for tiny krill and are harmless to people other than an accidental collision with ships.