St Martins Lutheran College Year 11 student Eleanor Doyle embarked on an ‘outward bound’ marine biology expedition to Costa Rica, leaving behind her textbooks for a hands-on adventure of a lifetime.


For two weeks, Eleanor immersed herself in the life and culture of Costa Rica, participating in conservation activities 


and obtaining her scuba diving certification.


As the only Australian in a group of 11 students from various international locations, Eleanor embraced the adventure, living like the locals, which included eating traditional foods, sleeping in dormitories and daily walks to the wells to collect water for the day ahead.


It was in Isla Solarte that she undertook intensive scuba training, exploring vibrant coral reefs, sunken catamarans, and shipwrecks. The group celebrated the completion of their diving certification with a bioluminescent night dive, gliding through the water as thousands of magical bioluminescent lights illuminated their path.


In the latter part of her expedition, Eleanor participated in a community service project on a remote island, contributing to local environmental cleanup efforts. She then transferred to the Sea Turtle Sanctuary of San San Pond Sak, where she engaged in vital conservation work with endangered leatherback sea turtles.


Eleanor helped excavate nesting sites, released newly hatched baby turtles, and completed night patrols to monitor the nesting of endangered sea turtles.


Her journey to Costa Rica serves as an inspiration to other students in the community, highlighting the value of stepping out of one’s comfort zone to embrace new challenges and make a positive impact on the world.


After completing school, Eleanor has her sights set on pursuing a Bachelor of Wildlife and Marine Conservation at the University of Adelaide.