Shark thrashed during fatal SA attack

A five-metre great white shark launched itself from the water and thrashed violently as it attacked a diver off South Australia's Yorke Peninsula, an inquest has heard.

Samuel Zachary Kellett, 28, is believed to have been taken by the shark as he spearfished with friends at Wattle Point in February last year, though his body has never been recovered.

Opening an inquest into his death on Tuesday, counsel assisting Amy Cacas gave details of what Mr Kellett's friends saw, including a shark vertical in the water as it attacked.

In his statement, Nick Carlson said he first saw the tail of the shark thrashing and then saw its whole body surface before diving again.

He said there was blood in the water after the attack and Mr Kellett was nowhere to be seen.

Aaron Whitaker said the white pointer was about five metres from him when he first saw the tail thrashing around.

Mr Whittaker said he could not see what it had grabbed but was sure it had taken his friend.

"It almost launched itself out of the water," Mr Whittaker said in his statement.

The men had been on Yorke Peninsula to take part in a spearfishing competition set for the day after the attack.

They had been diving at Wattle Point, also know as Goldsmith's Beach, for about three hours after opting to head there because a preferred location had been closed.

They were swimming on the surface and heading to shore when the shark struck in water about five metres deep.

Ms Cacas described the area as one rarely frequented by beachgoers.

She said a search failed to find any human remains but did recover two lead weights and Mr Kellett's speargun, which had teeth marks from a white pointer.

Ms Cacas said while Mr Kellett's body was not recovered, the evidence was sufficient to say he was attacked and taken by a shark.

Coroner Mark Johns will hand down his finding on a date to be fixed.