This is the moment a juvenile minke whale puts on a stunning show for tourists off the coast of California.

The footage, captured on July 8 off Newport Beach, shows the whale approaching the surface of the water right in front of a boat with whale watchers.

The filmer writes: ‘’This is a very rare behaviour for any whale yet alone minke whales which are known for shying away from boats and being very difficult to watch.

‘’This one appeared to be a juvenile based on its small size so it was possibly just curious.''

Minke whales in the United States are not endangered or threatened, but they are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.