Mixed layer depth (MLD) is an important parameter in the study of air‐sea interaction, acoustic propagation, and fisheries. With the onset of the southwest monsoon, a jetlike surface water flow develops from west to east along the equatorial Indian Ocean (EIO) creating an upward west to east sea surface slope. This in turn creates a slope in MLD in the opposing direction. In this paper, emphasis is placed on obtaining monthly coefficients between MLD and sea level for three regions across the EIO. Using these coefficients, MLD has been estimated from Geosat altimeter data. MLD in this region has been computed with an RMS error of 16 m, from altimeter data, as verified by TOGA in situ profiles.