Search resumes for shark attack victim

ADELAIDE - A massive search has resumed for a young marine biologist taken by a large shark off Adelaide.

The diver, named by News Ltd newspapers as Jarrod Stehbens, was attacked about 2km offshore about 4pm (6.30pm NZT) yesterday.

The University of Adelaide scientist aged in his 20s was on a scuba dive trip to collect cuttlefish eggs with colleagues at a tyre reef off Glenelg beach when he was taken.

Mr Stehbens and another diver were in the water when two colleagues aboard a boat saw the shark approach.

They managed to haul the divers aboard but the shark used its snout to push Mr Stehbens back into the water before his friends could grab him, a colleague of the men, who asked not to be named, said.

An oxygen tank and buoyancy vest were recovered by searchers late yesterday.

South Australian police acting Superintendent Jim Jeffrey says the chances of finding the young man alive are slim.

"We're in the process now of searching for the missing diver and for any other clothing or any other equipment that may be still out in the water," he told ABC radio.

"The indications to us though are that it'd be very doubtful that we will find the person alive."

Mr Jeffery says the victim's colleagues were extremely distressed.

"Our understanding is that the divers did actually see a shark take their colleague," he told the Nine Network today.

"Obviously they're very traumatised and horrified by what they did see and they're seeking some counselling and support."

The four involved in all worked with the University of Adelaide and had been collecting cuttlefish eggs for a research project.

The university's head of earth and environmental sciences Professor Bob Hill said he knew the four, and all were experienced divers.

"I'm actually quite proud of the three of them from what I have heard ... they made every attempt they could to do the right thing," Prof Hill said.

Yesterday's attack happened within one kilometre of where 18-year-old surfer Nick Peterson was taken and killed by a Great White shark last December at West Beach.

The waters off South Australia are a favourite hunting ground of the feared great white shark, which has been blamed for several fatal attacks in recent years, including that on Mr Peterson.

Yesterday's presumed fatality is the fifth from a shark attack in South Australia since 2000.

- AAP