Whales Surprise Surfer Near Santa Cruz, California Beach (VIDEO)

A surfer and kayakers got quite a surprise when two humpback whales lunged out of the water and nearly came crashing down upon them near Santa Cruz, California.

Barbara Roettger, the woman who shot the video, told ABC News that the group was about a quarter mile from shore when the whales surfaced. Roettger was only 20 feet away from encounter.

According to ABC News, "scientists believe weather patterns have driven fish closer to shore this year and brought the feeding whales with them."

The surprising encounter captured in the video is not the first one in the waters near Santa Cruz. The Associated Press reports that the U.S. Coast Guard has been monitoring a pod of humpbacks that have come within a mile of shore looking for food.

Roettger admitted that whale encounters like hers can be dangerous. "We were crazy to be out there, " she told ABC News. "You're a sitting duck, basically."

Officials are concerned for human safety, especially for kayakers and boaters who try to get a closer look at the creatures. No human injuries have been reported, but "at least one sailboat was damaged this week when it struck a whale."

As for the whales, many groups have spoken out against boats coming too close to the mammals.

Whaling, an historically lucrative business around the world, has come under increasing scrutiny in recent decades. According to the Associated Press, Japan still catches a small number of whales annually, in a "research program opposed by activists who call it commercial whaling in disguise."

Despite an international moratorium on whaling in 1986, Iceland continues the practice. This summer, the U.S. threatened Iceland with "trade and diplomatic sanctions" for its ramped up commercial whaling that was resumed in 2006.

WATCH:

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Comments

[BruntLIVE]

12:15 AM on 11/08/2011

Her swimsuit was full, she had a full diaper.

[Papa Tightwad]

05:58 PM on 11/07/2011

Gloria Allred will soon hold a news conference for the woman alleging SH by the whale.

[Judith K Bogdanove]

04:21 PM on 11/07/2011

My family and I had a similar encounter with a humpback whale about 20 years ago in a cove in Maine. We were kayaking specifically to see the whale, which was spending some time in the cove enjoying a run of pogies. The beautiful whale breeched up to his tail flukes, about 8 feet from my kayak. He looked me in the eye and then plunged gracefully back into the water, as smooth as butter, without even raising a wake. This intelligent being had no intent to swamp me, quite obviously, and I'm sure the surfer was not in any actual danger. These whales know precisely what they're doing. There's no need to put fear out there.

[Ogg-the-bear]

10:48 AM on 11/07/2011

I guess the "bikini-clad surfer" was the hook. I was so disappointed. In twenty years of surfing in socal, the water's only once been warm enough NOT to wear a wetsuit. Up in SC, a bikini-clad surfer is likely a polar bear club member but hey... I want my money back.

[serfdood]

08:01 AM on 11/07/2011

I think the one who was in more danger was the woman who shot the video if she was really just 20 feet away! Wow. \

[iRock]

10:36 PM on 11/06/2011

That has to be cool to brag about though.

[Meja Sananyon]

05:04 PM on 11/06/2011

Walk with your children to the beach

http://www.savethewhales.org/

its true..

~Meja

[pyecat]

11:25 AM on 11/06/2011

Based off the last comment of the "filmmaker", it seems like they were out there in order to "kayak/surf" with the whales. While I'm sure it was thrilling and the stories will last a lifetime, putting yourself in a fishing ground with the hopes of seeing sea life is dangerous and requires a bit more forethought. As far as I'm concerned, it's pretty careless. What if someone (or some whale) had been injured? The ocean isn't Disneyland.

[pyecat]

11:30 AM on 11/06/2011

http://saveourshores.blogspot.com/2011/11/respecting-marine-life-from-distance.html

[Meja Sananyon]

04:51 PM on 11/06/2011

Actually what I saw was.. magnificent mammals breaching..

Walt had no clue.

[Meja Sananyon]

11:11 AM on 11/06/2011

What a wonderful moment!

[Ronald Pardue]

06:37 AM on 11/06/2011

now that they think there are more whales than expected, how many will they allow to be killled?

[MaybeMilo]

11:21 PM on 11/05/2011

...but first, this word from our sponsor.

[Sabrae]

10:30 PM on 11/05/2011

This is nothing compared to getting between a teenaged boy and a Big Mac.

[thebigbike]

10:25 PM on 11/05/2011

Those whales should never have been allowed to do what they were doing there close to humans! They are DANGEROUS wild beasts and should be strictly kept away from humans unless restrained such as in marine world, where they can be trained and restrained. Sounds to me like the Japanese and Icleanders have the right idea. Go after them and make them useful as food for humans ! Don't allow them to put helpless humans at risk ANYMORE!!

[Sabrae]

10:32 PM on 11/05/2011

Are you serious? If so, sea kelp.

[MXL]

11:05 PM on 11/05/2011

Nice.

[thebigbike]

11:22 PM on 11/05/2011

uh....... no, not serious..... trying to be facetious. It's scary that there are people who COULD WOULD DO say this kind of thing for real

[evecaren]

08:58 AM on 11/06/2011

Whales are highly intelligent peaceful mammals who live in the ocean which is their home.
Ms. Roettger, who was in the kayak when the whales emerged from the water said herself
"we were crazy to be out there". You shouldn't be kayaking anyway in the ocean.
The whales were there first. Humans should not be kayaking in an area of the ocean where
there are whales. That's just common sense. I guess you missed the part in the article where it
states there is an international moritorium on whales which has been in place since 1986.
The Japanese are still catching and killing whales pretending they are catching and collecting
them as a research project. Disgusting ! The Icelandic people resumed commercial whaling
in 2006 despite the agreed international moritorium so they are in actual fact in violation of
the international agreement. Many whales are endangered and on the verge of extinciton and you have the audacity to say go after them and use them for food. Whales are amazing creatures
and deserve to live in peace in the oceans.

[iRock]

10:37 PM on 11/06/2011

I believe the comment you responded to was total sarcasm

[MissFish]

09:27 PM on 11/05/2011

Oh, the whale & the "surfer" (and the kayakers). Having lived on or near the water (Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans) for nearly 50 years, IMO, she was not surfing - too far offshore and yet not far enough for the 'roller' surfing off the CA coast. They all were out looking for whales & they found them. They should probably consider themselves LUCKY - that they saw the whales breach SO close & they were not harmed.

[MissFish]

09:14 PM on 11/05/2011

Seriously, must we see a commericial before a 15 second video?

[hyaofcr]

12:00 AM on 11/07/2011

x2!