Depth in

Meters
0

High Tide Low Tide 20 Meters 100 Meters

0 500
BENTHIC
200 Meters
CONTINENTAL TRANSITIONAL
(Non-Marine) (Brackish water- BE
INNER SHELF N
bays marshes, MIDDLE SHELF

TH
lagoon, estuarin) Inner neritic 500 Meters
Middle neritic

I
OUTER

C
500 1000
SHELF
(Outer PELAGIC
neritic)

BENTHIC (Bottom dwelling forms) 1000 1500

UPPER
SLOPE
CONTINENTAL (Non Marine) (upper
TRANSITIONAL bathyal)
INNER SHELF
MIDDLE SHEL PELAGIC

BE
OUTER SHELF
2000

NT
UPPER SLOPE 1500

HI
LOWER SLOPE

C
ABYSSAL
PELAGIC (Free from direct dependence on bottom or shore)

NEKTONIC - FREE SWIMMING 2000 Meters

PLANKTONIC - FLOATING FORMS LOWER SLOPE 2000 2500
(Lower Bathyal)

BATHYAL
ABYSSAL 2500