....
I think this is a bit deceptive. "Waves" are almost never encountered in
the open ocean except in shallows. "Swells" are what the sea is filled
with ...

That is not correct. While the oceans, unlike smaller bodies of
water, have swells they are also well populated with seas. Those seas
will be breaking in anything over force 8 and in lesser states when
the currents are running against the wind. And, there is also plenty
of current even far offshore.

-- Tom.