
Now that's what you call a close encounter!

As a humpback whale launched out of the water and soared into the air, before crashing down into the sea below, photographer Jodi Frediani was lucky enough to capture the rare moment.

Images of the majestic mammal were snapped during a swim programme with humpback whales at Silver Back in the Dominican Republic.

Majestic: During a swim programme in the Dominican Republic, photographer Jodi Frediana captured a close encounter with a humpback whale

Jodi from Santa Cruz, California, was taking part when the once-in-a-lifetime moment presented itself.

She said: 'I was out on the Silver Bank for three weeks participating in the swim program with humpback whales, with Conscious Breath Adventures, which holds one of the three permits allowing guests to snorkel with humpback whales.

'We also get to observe lots of surface behaviours, as humpback whales are very athletic and spend time slapping their pectoral flippers, doing tail lobs and throws, and breaching fully out of the water.

'They do this for many reasons, including communicating to other whales.'

The California-native was lucky enough to catch the rare moment that the whale had its mouth open while re-entering the water

'The area of the Silver Bank, waters of the Dominican Republic, is the main calving and breeding grounds for North Atlantic humpback whales,' she explained.

'We had been watching two whales swimming near our boat - likely a male and female. One was raising its pectoral flippers into the air and slapping the water.

'Then, without warning, this male fired off a breach close to our little boat.'

The area of the Silver Bank, waters of the Dominican Republic, is the main calving and breeding grounds for North Atlantic humpback whales

'I happened to be in the right place at the right time, camera at the ready, to get this breaching whale head on,' Jodi said

'I happened to be in the right place at the right time, camera at the ready, to get this breaching whale head on,' Jodi said.

'Getting a shot of the open mouth as it hit the water facing straight towards me was quite lucky.