Water temperature is rather constant through the year, averaging 26-28 °C in summer and 25 °C in winter. Salinity is 34? (parts per thousand) in the center and northern part and up to 35.5? in the south. The coasts are sandy and the deeper parts covered in silt. There are numerous coral reefs in the sea, such as the Lakshadweep islands which are made up of atolls and contain 105 coral species.

Ecology