Water was the initial creation; then the water was divided.
The terms used in the Masoretic text speak of expansion of that water into the entire creation. It was definitely not a flood, but a birth.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God (Elohim, pl.) created the heaven and the earth.
This does not say which part of heaven and earth came first. Genesis 1:2 continues... AND the earth was (should be the word 'became') without form, and void; and 'darkness' *was* upon the face of the deep.
AND the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
We know it 'was' a flood because of what Peter says in IIPeter 3, that heaven/earth age that WAS perished ...
IIPeter 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of,
that by the word of God the heavens were of OLD, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then WAS, being overflowed with water, perished:
Genesis 1:2 is talking about the first rebel of Isaiah 14:12-- and Ezekiel 28:12-- when he was overthrown/cast down. Paul and Christ both reference this 'event' and it got translated in the form of 'the foundation' as seen in Ephesians 1:4 by Paul and Christ used the verb form in Matthew 13:35 Matthew 25:34, Luke 11:50
IF you are interested do a study of the Greek word 'foundation' as used in the above verses.