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 he subsequently qualified as the youngest Clearance Diver at that time. He then moved on to a life as a commercial oilfield diver and for 22 years worked in the unforgiving depths of the North Sea and Persian Gulf. In 2004 a new industry was opening up. After an intense re-education he secured a job with one of the largest private security companies working with the reconstruction of Iraq. This involved explosive and gunshot filled daily runs deep into the heart of the Mosul and Baghdad red zones at the height of the post war troubles.
Security tasks followed in Africa involving Anti-Piracy duties aboard ships off the dangerous Somali coastline. An advisory position was then offered in the Swamp Area around Brass Island in Bayelsa State working with the Nigerian military's Joint Task Force.
He now has a gold prospecting operation 230km above the Arctic Circle in a beautiful but wild part of Finland. He successfully obtained his own gold claim in 2019 which was aptly named "Kaikki Peliin", or in English, "ALL IN".
This is a story of humour in adversity. Of highs and lows and the need to push on when all around is crumbling. Above all, it is about operating in differing fields but with one constant — Any error of judgment could be the last.
This book reflects the riveting, truthful and sometimes hilarious collection of true stories from a man who continues to choose adventure in life over the mundane.
