A bodyboarder has received seven stitches after being bitten by a shark, south of Adelaide, but says he is keen to get back in the water.

Scott Berry was bodyboarding with a friend about 80 metres off Parsons Beach near Victor Harbor when the shark attacked him about 9:45am (ACST).

He thinks it was a 1.5-metre bronze whaler.

Mr Berry was helped to shore by others and taken to the South Coast District Hospital at Victor Harbor.

The 39-year-old got stiches to a wound on his torso before being allowed to go home.

Mr Berry said he was circled by the shark after it attacked him.

"I was probably most afraid after it had actually got me once," he said.

"It had me a little worried as to what's going to go on from here.

"It wasn't going to swallow me whole, that's for sure, but I knew he could do some damage and he could hurt."

Praise for rescuer

Jasmine Berry is full of praise for a young woman who swam out and was first to reach her partner to offer help.

"She actually swam further out to get to him knowing it was a shark because my husband was yelling out 'shark'," she said.

"[She] actually went deeper to get to him and she was the first person there to help him so I think she's incredibly brave to that and I'm really thankful that she was there."

Mr Berry says he is keen to get back into the sea.

"I've had my shark attack now, I should be safe from here on I can get back in the water and you're pretty unlucky to get bitten again," he said.