A rare white orca amazed whale watchers in California.

Footage shows the four-year-old marine animal named Frosty gliding in the water with its family near a tour boat in Newport Beach on May 6.

The killer whale pod made of at least five members did the surprise appearance to passengers of Catallac boat from Davey's Locker headed by Captain Dani.

They were watching giant fin whales feed nearby, and the crew and passengers were astonished when Captain Dani spotted distinctive puffs in the distance, signalling the presence of killer whales.

Among them was Frosty, distinguished by its milky white colour, a result of a rare genetic condition.

Accompanied by family members, including momma CA216C, Aunt Jagged, and cousins Jaz & CA216B, Frosty showcased the uniqueness of the CA216 pod, a transient orca group rarely observed along the Southern California coastline.

In a breathtaking moment, the killer whales gracefully glided beneath the Catallac, providing passengers with an up-close encounter.

They were observed feeding on a sizable chunk of unknown prey, likely a grey whale they had hunted during the night.

Sightings of killer whales in this region are rare and the pod, known to migrate as far north as British Columbia, was sighted almost exactly one year prior, highlighting the consistency of their annual migration patterns.

This sighting marks a distinct pod from the ETP killer whale pod observed earlier in the year, further enriching the diversity of marine life along California's coast.