The removal of a 3,000-tonne eyesore that has been partially submerged off South Australia's coast for six years will be delayed further after divers surveying the structure found it did not match expectations.

Key points: The generator was wrecked off Carrickalinga in March 2014

The generator was wrecked off Carrickalinga in March 2014 Divers to wait until spring to undertake works in favourable conditions

Divers to wait until spring to undertake works in favourable conditions Carrickalinga Ratepayers Association says a partial removal will create danger

The Oceanlinx wave generator, which was wrecked about one-and-a-half kilometres off the shore of Carrickalinga in March 2014, was to have the visible portion removed and the remainder below the surface converted into an artificial reef.

But SA Transport Minister Stephan Knoll said contracted divers who went down to survey the generator "found the structure itself was not as the drawings suggested it was".

"The company that's undertaking the demolition and removal had to go back and rethink their strategy," he told ABC Radio Adelaide.

"And now that we're coming into autumn and winter, it's more difficult to have divers underwater removing that structure, so they're going to have to wait for more favourable conditions.

"Nothing surprises me with this saga anymore."

From one year to six

The Oceanlinx structure was being towed from Port Adelaide to Port McDonnell in March 2014 where it would have used oscillating water column technology to generate enough energy to power about 1,000 homes from shallow waters.

Instead it started listing after its airbags were damaged and the unit sank while being towed to shallow water.

Shortly afterwards, Oceanlinx, which previously had a generator sink offshore at Port Kembla in New South Wales after it broke free from its pylons during rough seas in 2010, went into receivership.

Despite State Government promises the wreck would be removed within a year, lengthy delays blamed on court proceedings ensued.

In 2018, the newly elected Liberal Government announced plans to turn it into an artificial reef.

It planned to remove the top section of the structure and leave 2,500 tonnes of concrete and embedded reinforced steel below the surface.

A warning marker, including lights, was to be installed for maritime navigators.

Calls to remove entire structure

Carrickalinga Ratepayers Association President Kim Baker said he wanted the wrecked generator gone in its entirety.

"It's not so much that it's sitting there, but where it's sitting in relation to the surface of the water," he said.

"[After its partial removal] it will be 1 metre below the surface at the low-tide mark.

"It's an obstruction and it's dangerous."

An exclusion zone applies around the 3,000-tonne wreck. ( ABC News: Dean Faulkner )

He appreciated it would cost a reported $8 million to properly remove and the coronavirus pandemic had put further pressure on government budgets.

But Mr Baker believed maintaining the warning marker would be an ongoing cost as would maintaining an exclusion zone around the wrecked structure.

"We're referring to this as environmental waste," he said.

"If you dumped 2,500 tonnes of environmental waste in Rundle Mall, it would be removed pretty quick.

"This has been dumped in Carrickalinga Bay. We don't want it there and it needs to be removed."

Mr Knoll said he shared the frustration of residents for the ongoing delays.

"This is a mess that I've been trying to fix and deal with for the couple years I've been Minister and it's been a saga that's gone on too long."