Objects floating in the water, like buoys, only bob up and down when waves pass. Why do they not get pushed all the way to wherever the wave goes

Because as the waves propagates, the particles of the medium (molecules of water) vibrates perpendicularly (upward and downward) about their mean position and not in the direction of the waves.

Explanation:

A wave is a phenomena which causes a disturbance in a medium without any permanent deformation to the medium. Examples are; transverse wave and longitudinal wave. Waves transfer energy from one point in the medium to another.

The waves generated by water are transverse waves. Which are waves in which the vibrations of the particles of the medium is perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the waves.

Thus as the waves propagates, the molecules of water vibrates up and down and not along the direction of propagation of the waves. So that the floating objects do not get pushed in the direction of the waves every time.

i would think it's food chain

i don't know that i agree with that but what's the question ?