Background Data for: A laboratory experiment and procedure for deterministic validation of numerical wave models

Surface elevation and wave-paddle motion time series from wave flume experiments designed to benchmark dispersive-wave models. Wave groups span steepness regimes from linear to severely breaking. Two bathymetries were tested: 1. Flat bed: (practically deep water). 2. Shoal: placed in the centre of the flume, giving a depth variation of approximately 0.9 < *kh* < 3. The flume still-water depth was 0.6 m in both configurations (the shoal sits on the flat bed).