The method of dissipating water wave energy includes using an array of vertically-extending breakwater walls for dissipating the energy of water waves in an area of interest. Each vertically-extending wall has a plurality of horizontally-extending slots formed therethrough. The areas and/or configurations of the horizontally-extending slots can be varied such that each vertically-extending wall can have a unique degree of porosity. Each vertically extending wall can be positioned in succession in front of a water-impregnable rear barrier. The slots of one vertically-extending wall can be staggered or nonaligned relative to the next vertically-extending wall in succession.