what is the verb for water going past a rock?

I'm looking for a verb to describe the "Y" thing the water makes when it hits a rock, for example in the river. Here is a professional piece of art I made (view from the top):

Is it simply called "going around"? Or there's/re another word/s for it?

Here's the sentence example: "He stood in the middle of the shallow river, the water _____ him."

Solution 1:

The "Y" shape of the water is caused by the water "splitting" around the obstacle. Another word would be "bifurcate" which means splitting into two paths (such as bifurcation of the water flow), but that may be too technical sounding. If that is the case, the path of the water is certainly "parting". Or, less directly, one could simply state that the stream "surrounded" him (diverging around him naturally - thus splitting is implied).

"He stood in the middle of the shallow river, the water splitting around him."

"He stood in the middle of the shallow river, the water bifurcating around him."

"He stood in the middle of the shallow river, the water parting about him."

https://www.thefreedictionary.com/split

https://www.thefreedictionary.com/bifurcate

https://www.thefreedictionary.com/part

https://www.thefreedictionary.com/surround

Solution 2:

If flowed is unacceptable then how about "curved around", or even "slid past/by". For a bit of color, "rushed by".