When surface currents get near land, they experience a change in direction. This is because the presence of landmasses disrupts the flow of the currents, causing them to alter their course. This change in direction can be influenced by various factors such as the shape of the coastline, the depth of the water, and the interaction between the current and the land. The currents may deflect, split, or even form eddies as they encounter the land, resulting in a shift in their overall direction.