Staying Alive: A collection of true stories from depth to desert and beyond

John Steele left his family and home at the tender age of 16 to join the Royal Navy. In a select branch of only 200 men he subsequently qualified as the youngest Mine Clearance Diver at that time. He then moved on to a life as an oilfield commercial diver and for 22 years worked in the unforgiving depths of the North Sea and the Persian Gulf.

In 2004 a new industry was opening up and following an intense period of re-education he secured a job with one of the largest private security compani...