Maravagi is located in the Solomon Islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It is situated in the Florida Islands, also known as Nggela Islands, in the province of Central Islands. The Solomon Islands occupies a complex geologic juncture between the Indo-Australasian and Pacific Plates creating high marine biodiversity due to the diversity of habitats (Jupiter et al. 2019). Most of the Solomon Islands is located within the West Pacific Warm Pool and is influenced by the South Pacific Convergence Zone, Intertropical Convergence Zone, and the West Pacific Monsoon (Jupiter et al. 2019). Its oceanographic setting is dominated by prevailing southeasterly trade winds that drive major ocean currents to the northwest along the southern part of the chain and to the west in the northern part of the archipelago during austral winter months (June–August) (Salinger et al. 1995). During summer months (December–March), the directionality of ocean currents is more variable (Jupiter et al. 2019).

This area is a channel between two land masses that connects east Mangalonga Island and northwestern Mbokonimbeti Island. The northern side of the channel has a maximum depth of 25 m, and the southern side reaches a maximum depth of 200 m. The northern side is characterised by coral reefs with a narrow sandy channel (~160 m wide) in between the reef. This channel funnels water to form strong currents (Bilikiki 2018) and may act to concentrate productivity.

This Important Shark and Ray Area is benthopelagic and is delineated from inshore and surface waters (0 m) to 30 m based on the bathymetry of the area.