Final answer:
Water waves do not push water from one place to another; they transfer energy, causing the particles of water to move up and down in place.
Step-by-step explanation:
The common misconception regarding water waves is that they push water from one location to another. However, water waves transfer only energy, not the water itself. The particles of water mainly move up and down in place due to the energy passing through the wave, essentially staying in the same general location. When one feels the movement of water in the ocean, it is the energy that is being felt, not the physical movement of water from one place to another.