Neritic zone
| Marine habitats | 
|---|
| Coastal habitats | 
| Ocean surface | 
| Open ocean | 
| Sea floor | 
The neritic zone (or sublittoral zone) is the relatively shallow part of the ocean above the drop-off of the continental shelf, approximately 200 meters (660 ft) in depth. From the point of view of marine biology it forms a relatively stable and well-illuminated environment for marine life, from plankton up to large fish and corals, while physical oceanography sees it as where the oceanic system interacts with the coast.