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A survey of sea turtles and their nesting and foraging habitats was carried out in the Lakshadweep archipelago in the Arabian Sea, from July 2001 to May 2002. Secondary information, including literature reviews and interviews with Forest and Fisheries Department officials, offshore patrolling agencies and local fishermen were used to identify potential sea turtle habitat. Island beaches were surveyed for nesting, and lagoons were sampled for estimating the relative abundance and size class distributions of turtles. Three species of sea turtles were recorded nesting on the islands, Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) being the most common followed by Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and Hawksbill iEretrnochelvs imbricata) turtles Uninhabited islands provided the best nesting sites for Green Turtles, Both juveniles and adults of Green Turtles and Hawksbill were sighted and captured in the lagoons. There was considerable beach alteration because of sand mining and beach armouring with cement blocks to prevent erosion. Increasing coastal development poses a major threat to sea turtle habitats in the Lakshadweep islands and lagoons.