Wave Motion
Waves are capable of traveling very long distances over ocean basins. The wave travels the distance, but the water doesn't because the water particles pass the energy on by moving in a circle. This motion is called circular orbital motion, and it allows energy to move forward through water while the individual water particles move in a circle. The energy is also transmitted down and not just across the surface of the water. When the energy moves down, the water particles no longer move in a circle.
Breaking Waves
When a wave is in deep water, the depth of the water doesn't affect the wave motion, but when it get closer to the shore and in shallower water the depth does affect the wave's motion. When a wave gets in shallow water the floor interferes with the base of the wave and it slows the wave down tremendously.