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A woman kayaking off California captured the moment a massive whale breached out of the water just inches from her daughter.

Rhonda Burmeister was out in the sea with her daughter at Port San Luis when a swarm of seagulls started diving into a nearby patch of water.

She trained her camera on the spot - and moments later a humpback whale jumped out of the water right beside them.

While she admits the up close encounter could have ended badly, Ms Burmeister said it was one of the best experiences of her life.

A nearby couple weren't so lucky, according to Ms Burmeister, who said they were knocked out of the kayak by the whale.