This is the breathtaking moment a pod of killer whales was spotted in Newport Beach, California.

Staff on a boat operated by Davey's Locker Whale Watching first sighted the orcas around 9 am on December 27, just off Laguna Beach.

Later in the afternoon, the marine creatures appeared closer to shore, within three miles of Newport Beach Harbor.

The pod, known to California whale-watching enthusiasts as the CA51 pod, is famous for its playful interactions with boats.

It included matriarch CA51 Star, who is around 40 years old, and her three offspring, sons CA51B Orion and CA51C Bumper, and daughter CA51E Comet.

These killer whales are reportedly considered 'transient' orcas, known for their extensive range from southeast Alaska to the Mexico border. They primarily hunt marine mammals like seals and sea lions.

Footage shows the orcas repeatedly breaching the water, delighting onlookers with their spectacular display.

Jessica Rodriguez, Education and Communications Manager of Newport Landing and Davey's Locker Whale Watching, said: 'This pod was also seen briefly on December 15th of this year -17 miles off the coast of Orange County by Newport Coastal Adventure Zodiac boats.

'Prior to the brief sighting in mid December of this year, the CA51 pod hasn't been seen locally in about six years.

'Lucky passengers aboard our whale watching boats were thrilled to see this family of orcas again today, as they used to be one of the most frequently-sighted killer whale pods in Southern California between 2012-2018, but now, we don't encounter them much at all.'

She added that the killer whale family now appears to be spending more time in other areas.

Despite being called 'killer whales,' orcas are not whales but the largest species of oceanic dolphins. They are highly intelligent and social animals, often living in groups called pods, which can consist of up to 40 individuals.

They hunt cooperatively, and swimming in pods at high speed allows them to work together to herd, chase, and overwhelm prey, such as schools of fish, seals, or even large marine mammals like whales.