Rich garnered international media attention from his close encounter on his paddle board with a pod of orcas off the coast of Laguna Beach. His story got the attention of some of the leading conservationist organizations in the world including Save The Whales, PETA, Blackfish and Sylvia Earle’s foundation.

This led him to start Project O whose mission is to help restore, protect and sustain the ocean, the life living in it and all of humankind, now and for generations to follow. The initial vision is to see the entire coastline of California protected.

Watch Rich paddle with the orcas.