SAN DIEGO -- A rare sighting of orca whales off the San Diego coast captured the attention of yachtsmen and spectators alike, 10News reported.

The killer whales were spotted just off the coast of the Coronado Islands, members of the yacht America told 10News.

"This (the whale) was right next to us," said crewmember Al Sorkin. "We heard a little blurb on the radio and it said, 'There's some whales out here,' and next thing you know, we're like, 'These are orcas.'"

Two separate times in the past week, local whale watchers on the America yacht have spotted the rare pod of killer whales. The crewmembers were in awe of about 20 orcas as they played and showed off.

"They were very curious about our boat. They came right up to us," said Sorkin.

"I have over 7,000 days on the water and I have never seen a pod like that, this close to the shore here in San Diego -- ever," said Troy Sears, captain of the America.

Experts said the orcas are high on the endangered species list, and their numbers have dwindled in the past few years.

"There's one spot where I am watching the mom and the baby and they both swim over to our boat and they swim right by the bow, like the mom is saying here, 'Take a look at this,'" said Sorkin.

Although they are called killer whales, experts said they are not considered a threat to humans. Some of the whales the crewmembers encountered were friendly and playful, even at 32 feet long and 22,000 pounds.

Orcas found this far south in the Pacific Ocean is a real treat, and it is a sight many of the crewmembers aboard the America may never see again.

"The fact that I even got to see them once is fabulous," said Sorkin.