Beach

Beaches are recurring locations on the World Map in the Final Fantasy series. They are discovered on the borders of islands where the ground meets the sea. Beaches only become a common feature when the World Map becomes 3D starting with Final Fantasy VII. Beaches are used to dock the party's boat. Due to this, some islands have no beaches to present access before the player obtains an airship.

Final Fantasy VII
The first appearance of beaches was in Final Fantasy VII. Beaches allow the buggy to travel onto shallows to reach other beaches, and beaches allow the Tiny Bronco to dock. Each of the key islands have at least one beach. The Wutai Area only has a beach on the southern part, therefore the player has to travel the entire length of the island if they choose to travel to the village of Wutai before obtaining the Highwind. Also, the beaches of the Mideel Area aren't on the same level of land as the town of Mideel, therefore the player can only access it after obtaining the Highwind. Goblin Island has a beach. Cactus Island does not have a beach, and none of the areas the Materia Caves are attached to have beaches. Costa del Sol is a seaside town in the Corel Area.

In the Midgar Area, the Grasslands Area, and the Junon Area, the enemies fought on the other terrains are also fought on the beaches. However, in other beaches they are given enemies exclusive to the areas. These enemies are usually mutations of ordinary beach-life or aquatic creatures. The enemies on the eastern beaches of the western continent, in the North Corel Area, the Gold Saucer Area, and the Gongaga Area, include only the Beachplug and Grangalan enemies. The Beachplug enemy is a squid-like creature with three tentacles and what appears to be a shell and appears exclusively in beaches. The Grangalan first appears as a general enemy in the North Corel Area before only appearing on the beach in others.

The enemies on the western beaches of the western continent, in the Cosmo Area, the Nibel Area, and the Rocket Launch Pad Area, include only Crown Lance enemies. These enemies resemble jelly fish. These enemies never appear out of their habitat with the exception of the fourth stage of the Battle Square when the player gets the Tiny Bronco where stronger versions are fought.

The Woodlands Area and Icicle Area beaches have one encounter, being a single Tonadu enemy. This bird can also be fought in the Woodlands Area dirt, the North Corel Area desert and as an enemy in the second stage after meteor is summoned.

The Adamantaimai solely appears in the beaches of the Wutai Area. Large in size, they resemble tortoises.

The Sea Worm appears on the Mideel Area beaches. Contrary to their name, they may also appear in the North Corel Area deserts. They also appear in the final battle of the Battle Square after the summoning of Meteor and in the first stage of the Special Battle.

Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-
Beaches are first seen in Costa del Sol at the start of Chapter 7 where a number of G Diver enemies are fought. These same beaches appear later in missions 10-3: Fun in the Sun! and 10-4: More Fun in the Sun. This beach is also the only time Zack wields the Umbrella.

A beach also appears in Chapter 10 after traveling through the Nibel Plains. The prizes of the Sniper minigame are discovered here, and when the player moves out to sea, the cutscene plays that bridges to Chapter 8.