You can create 3 dimensional waves in Maya with the texture deformer.
(The vertices moving all three directions not just Y.)

Try this (1:1 scale):

• Create a polyplane (width:500, height:500, Subdiv.: 100 in both direction)
• Add a texture Deformer
• Add a Texture (Ocean of course)
• Deformer settings:
• Point Space: UV
• Direction: Vector!!!!
• Vector Space: Object
• Vector Strength: 250, 1000, 250
• Vector Offset: -250, -1000, -250

Play with the Ocean texture attributes.

🙂 That’s it.
Cheers, D