I remember doing this at some local body of water that isn't really big enough to have waves. The boys group as a collective would often dig a hole close to the water though instead of a bit further away.

It actually had some use though: once the hole was wide and deep enough, you could flood it with water. Since the water level was quite shallow, the sun heated up the water quite a lot more, which felt like having created your own private jacuzzi.

It was awesome and I fondly look back to those memories of some boys having a common goal despite not knowing each other. Good times.