Regarding waves as obstacles for a seaplane landing: it depends on local weather condition more than on particular area. Both Black Sea and West Med can be pretty rough. Waves are shorter than in the ocean and in "open" seas but high enough to cause a damage. Beaufort 9-10 winds and waves up to 6-9 m are not rare in those areas in winter period.
East Med is much calmer through most of year, especially in Levant - real safe haven. English Channel can be bad at Western approaches, but waves are much smaller in Dover Strait. Barentz probably was very tricky for seaplanes in winter. Ice helps to reduce waves, but... it's still ice. I wonder were they able to land in pancake ice conditions, for example.
Besides the waves, wind speed should be taken into account, of course. And in autumn/winter period - icing effect which is real menace for small ships stability and can develop extremely fast under certain conditions (wind speed/temperature/humidity).
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Q: Mr. Rall, what was the best tactic against the P-47?
A: Against the P-47? Shoot him down!
(Gunther Rall's lecture. June 2003, Finland)
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