ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Ocean wave

The ocean is a big body of water that moves around a lot because of things like wind and the pull of the moon. When the wind blows across the surface of the ocean, it creates waves.

Waves look like big hills and valleys of water moving up and down. If you've ever been to the beach, you've probably seen waves crashing onto the shore.

The biggest waves are called swells, and they can travel very far across the ocean. When a swell reaches shallow water near the shore, it becomes a breaker and crashes onto the beach.

Waves can be really fun to play in, but they can also be dangerous. It's important to always listen to lifeguards and not go too far out in the water if you're not a strong swimmer.