The instability of the Nile delta coastal zone, in terms of erosion and accretion, has been observed since the beginning of the present century. Severe erosion of some coastal areas has destroyed roads and caused loss of buildings and resort beaches. On the other hand, shoaling due to accretion in lake inlets and estuaries has caused subsequent navigation hazards. Several general studies have been conducted in Nile delta coastal zone; including coastal geomorphology (SESTINI, 1976; FRIHY et al., 1988); analysis of beach profiles normal to the shore up to 6 m depth (MANOHAR, 1976a&b); shoreline changes (SESTINI, 1976; MISDORP, 1977; KLEMAS and ABDEL KADER, 1982; FRIHY, 1988; SMITH and ABDEL KADER, 1988); sur-ficial sediment distribution (SUMMERHAYES et al., 1978); dynamic factors (KHAFAGY and MANOHAR, 1979; MANOHAR, 1981; FANOS, 1986; ELWANY et al., 1988) and land subsidence or sea level rise (EMERY et al., 1988; STANLEY, 1988). Earlier research on changes in the bottom morphology of the shelf of the Nile delta has been qualitatively investigated by MISDORP and SESTINI (1976) and TOMA and SALAMA (1980). Their bathymetric comparison was based on 1919/22 and 1975 maps. The present study is based largely on quantitative comparison between the 1919/22 and the more recent 1986 bathymetric surveys. An attempt is also made to apply multiple corre-lation statistics between the erosion/accretion data and other profile parameters such as grain size distribution of bottom sediments, slope gradient and water depth. The overall pattern of sediment movement in the study area is also constructed on the basis of measured coastal changes between the two study maps.