Inquest into three SA beach drownings

An inquest will be held into the deaths of three men who drowned off South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula in the past three years.

Deputy State Coroner Tony Schapel will consider the circumstances of the deaths and ways similar drownings might be prevented at those locations.

David Russell Gadd, 28, died in February 2012 after getting into difficulty at Depledge Beach at Encounter Bay.

After a witness rang the emergency hotline, a boat arrived and retrieved Mr Gadd from the water but he could not be revived.

Kamran Bimal Gujari, 19, disappeared from Petrel Cove Beach at Encounter Bay in April 2014.

He was seen struggling in the water but would-be rescuers were unable to maintain their hold on him and his body has never been found.

Nasir Ali Anwari, 18, got into difficulties at the same beach in December 2014.

Inquest witnesses will include rescuers, police water operations personnel and Shane Daw of Surf Life Saving SA.

The inquest, which will include visits to where the drownings occurred, will begin in Adelaide on Friday.