On Getting Past the Waves and Rough Water

I've learned that when you're trying to swim past the waves and make it past the surf and to calmer waters, dive under the wave. No matter how big the wave is, under the wave the water is calm and smooth. To swim through, you take a breath, dive down, grab some sand and count three to five seconds. The rough waters will break several feet above you and after it's moved on you just come back up. I was taught not to try to battle the waves (too tiring and too futile)... dive down, calmy count, and rise effortlessly to the top.