Lifestyle Pets Humpback Whale Jumps Out of Water Next to Tour Boat and Waves at Stunned Onlookers Whale photographer Jodi Frediani captured the moment with her camera from another boat nearby in the waters near Monterey Bay, California By Kimberlee Speakman Kimberlee Speakman Kimberlee Speakman is a digital writer at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2022. Her work has previously appeared in Forbes and she has also worked in broadcast television as a reporter for Hawaii-based news station KHON2 News. People Editorial Guidelines Published on May 11, 2023 03:30PM EDT Photo: Jodi Frediani/CATERS NEWS A boat full of whale watchers got a spectacular view when a humpback whale breached close to their ship. In a series of photos of the stunning event in Monterey Bay, California, the whale — a 4-year-old female named Murph — jumps out of the ocean, her large body towering over the boat full of camera-ready whale watchers. In one picture, Murph appears to be feet from the tour boat, almost touching the vessel with a waving flipper. After putting on a show, Murph flipped her tail and dove back into the water, leaving a large splash behind her. The moment was captured by 74-year-old whale photographer Jodi Frediani, who had been on a separate boat witnessing the event. Jodi Frediani/CATERS NEWS Two whales had been swimming and feasting on anchovies by Frediani's boat prior to the incident. Fredani, who has been swimming with and photographing humpbacks for 18 years, captured similar scenes before in Monterey Bay, including an incident in 2018 when a different humpback whale came in close proximity to a tour boat. Skipper the Australian Shepherd Becomes Fast Friends with Humpback During Whale Watching Trip "Humpback whales don't deliberately threaten humans — they are good at navigating around stationary boats in the water," Frediani told PEOPLE at the time. "I am never afraid when I see them up close. Rather, I'm amazed and overjoyed by their power and magnificence." She said humpback whales can often find themselves close to boats while trying to capture fish. "Most people scream and squeal when a whale suddenly pops up close to the boat," Frediani said. "We try to follow the guidelines, staying 100 yards away, but the feeding action is very fluid, and sometimes the fish try to hide under the boat. Then the following whales may suddenly lunge close by." Fredian told PEOPLE that she hoped her photos "inspire people to want to protect humpback whales, their food source, and our oceans." RELATED Video: Critically Endangered North Atlantic Right Whale Spotted Nursing Calf Near Cape Cod — See the Video! "Nothing makes me happier than watching and photographing lunge-feeding humpback whales," she added. "The magic and surprise as their massive heads suddenly rocket skyward from the deep fills me with joy every time." Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The humpback whales can often be spotted in Monterey Bay between April and late December before moving to warmer waters off Mexico during winter, according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Humpback whales often eat shrimp-like crustaceans or krill and small fish. The United States listed humpback whales as "endangered" under the Endangered Species Conservation Act in 1970, per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.