The Mediterranean Sea has been described as the most impoverished large body of water in the world. Number of studies have determined nutrient concentration in the western and central Mediterranean; in this preliminary study, we present data from 25 stations in the Levantine basin of the eastern Mediterranean. The surface layer, to a depth of 150 m, had a silicic acid content of 1-2-mu-M and a nitrate concentration of less than 1-mu-M, while the maximum reached at depth was 5.4-6.5-mu-M nitrate and 9.9-14.6-mu-M nitrate and 9.9-14.6-mu-M silicic acid except for three stations close to the Egyptian coast where a value of 17-mu-M was reached. There was sometimes a small nitrate maximum (0.1-0.5-mu-M) at 600 m (400-800 m). Based on temperature, salinity and dissolved nutrient data, a warm-core eddy was found south of Cyprus in a position similar to that observed previously. Preformed nutrients calculated in the usual manner gave negative values and could not be used as a tracer for water mass type. The elemental ratio (O:N) for decomposing organic matter was calculated to be 138:11.0-13.0 which is considerably different from the usual Redfield ratio.