History Main / SandIsWater

* In the manga ''Stone'', this is pretty much what the entire world is like. It isn't ''quite'' "sand" or mud or water, but a combination of the three that pretty much behaves like water. Ships sail on it. Life lives in it, including whales, etc.

* ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventure'': Secco's [[FightingSpirit Stand]], [[InstantArmor Oasis]], gives him the ability to treat any stone or earth as this. It's a virtually unbeatable combo with his partner, [[FesteringFungus Cioccolata]], whose Green Day generates a virulent fungal infection that spreads extremely rapidly, but only when its victims move to a lower elevation.

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* The Literature/{{Discworld}} has the Great Nef, a desert with an ocean of ''dehydrated water'' (a silvery powder) at its centre. [[AWizardDidIt This is explicitly described to be a fourth state of water, only attainable in a high thaumic field]]. The desert nomads who live there sail on ships that wouldn't look out of place in the Circle Sea. It's also briefly mentioned to be home to very strange fish.

* Hugh Howey (author of Literature/{{Wool}}) has another serial novel called Sand in which divers use vibration suits to swim through sand and scavenge treasure.
* The Literature/{{Railsea}} is an ocean of sand that you can only cross by train. Dangerous monsters will attack the second you step off the rail.

** The Desert of Shifting Sands (or Quicksand Desert) in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'' is essentially a convoluted set of rapids, also featuring a sandworm!
*** ''VideoGame/SecretOfMana'' had a desert like this, too.
** Figaro Castle in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' was able to turn into a sand-submarine and move between two deserts.
** Not to mention in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' has the two Fastitocalon enemies, FISH that not only treated sand as water, but could also do the same with AIR!

** Taken to its (il)logical extreme in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'', where you can actually 'fish' in sand.

* In ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', bodies of sand and bodies of water interact with the player exactly the same way: like [[SuperDrowningSkills bottomless pits]].
** [[ShiftingSandLand Dusty Desert]] in ''Sonic 2006'' is a rather egregious example, as thanks to [[ObviousBeta its shoddy programming shortcuts]], if you come in contact with ''any'' body of sand, it splashes. And if you happen to let the sand come above a character's ankles, they'll die instantly as if they fell into water.
** Another Sonic example, the Sandopolis Zone in ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'' had sand ''waterfalls'' and sand rivers that you slide down.

** ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleGames Oracle of Seasons]]'' has a small desert with sand whirlpools and a half-buried pirate ship. One of the major quests is to get the ship unburied and back out to sea.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Klonoa}} 2: Lunatea's Veil,'' you can surf on sand with the surfboard [[spoiler: after the Sea of Tears has been dried up.]] The failed physics is corrected somewhat when you account for a floating board.

* House of the Dead 2 has a hydra-like boss known as Tower. In its first fight, the player kills 4 out of its 5 heads, but the last one has to be hunted and killed at either a watery or a sand-filled arena, neither environment stopping it from just swimming through.

* ''Videogame/DeepRockGalactic:'' The Sandblasted Corridors may have actual sandstone rather than sand, but Nayaka Trawlers don't seem to care at all. They're the only ones that get to treat the floor this way however, and it's specifically noted as something really strange they can do. But they will swim through sandstone at you, grab you, and then exploit the fact to you it's still sand to try and [[WhatADrag subject you to a horrible death through abrasion by dragging you through the sandstone]]; it's a good thing your heavy armor manages to stave off a lot of that harm.

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* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', the nomadic tribes of the Earth Kingdom's Si Wong Desert specialize in manipulating the sand that surrounds them (other earthbenders can do little more with sand than make a few puffs of dust unless they practice diligently) so the water-like behaviour is {{justified|Trope}}, since it's derived from their mystical bending powers; consequentially, their movements are more akin to those of a waterbender. They apply this power to use small sand skiffs to sail around in.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' episode "Long Live the Earth Queen," Korra and Asami use a sand-ship to escape from a ''gigantic sand fish.''

Water is cool, but how much [[RuleOfCool cooler]] would it be if we replaced it with sand? Rivers, lakes, whirlpools, even whole oceans of sand that behave more or less exactly like a body of water are common in desert settings. Bonus points if ships sail said sandy seas (say that ten times really fast). You will even often find native life swimming in ([[FlyingSeafoodSpecial or above]]) these seas, with everything from Sand Guppies to [[ThreateningShark threatening Sand Sharks]] full-blown {{Sand Worm}}s.

* In The ''WesternAnimation/LegendOfKorra'' episode "Long Live the Earth Queen," Korra and Asami use a sand-ship to escape from a ''gigantic sand fish.''

* Orochimaru once uses a jutsu to let him traverse through dirt like water, even using a ReedSnorkel]], to spy on Team 7

* Sand Zone from ''VideoGame/CaveStory'' features aptly named sand crocs which [[WallMaster prey on any hapless victim]] that falls into otherwise solid sand in which they can seemingly swim.

* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', the nomadic Earthbender offshoot Sandbenders specialize in manipulating the sand that surrounds them (other Earthbenders can do little more with sand than make a few puffs of dust unless they practice diligently) so the water like behaviour gets {{justified|Trope}} since its derived from their mystical bending powers; consequentially, their movements are more akin to those of a waterbender. They apply this power to use small sand skiffs to sail around in.

* Oddly enough, there is an animal known as a "sandfish" which swims through sand - although it's a [[http://www.physorg.com/news166973246.html skink]] and not an actual fish of course. Marsupial moles and desert-dwelling golden moles also sort of "swim" through sand as well. Presumably, this trick won't work well with larger animals (less thrust relative to surface area), so don't expect any real-life sand worms.

Water is cool, but how much [[RuleOfCool cooler]] would it be if we replaced it with sand? Rivers, lakes, whirlpools, even whole oceans of sand that behave more or less exactly like a body of water are common in desert settings. Bonus points if ships sail said sandy seas (say that ten times really fast). You will even often find native life swimming in ([[FlyingSeafoodSpecial or above]]) these seas, with everything from Sand Guppies to full-blown {{Sand Worm}}s.

* Sand ships and sand dolphins can be purchased in the ridiculously advanced future of ''Anime/{{Doraemon}}''; in one NonSerialMovie, Nobita and company discover that Sinbad the Sailor (of the Literature/ArabianNights) was the beneficiary of such gifts from a grateful time traveling tourist who'd got stranded in the desert and saved by Sinbad.

** The ''TabletopeGame/{{Greyhawk}}'' setting. The Sea of Dust had "dust lakes" which acted like water, including supporting boats and allowing people to swim through it.

* The Literature/{{Discworld}} has the Great Nef, which is not so much a desert as an ocean of ''dehydrated water''. [[AWizardDidIt This is explicitly described to be a fourth state of water, only attainable in a high thaumic field]]. The desert nomads who live there sail on ships that wouldn't look out of place in the Circle Sea. It's also briefly mentioned to be home to very strange fish.

** The Greyhawk setting. The Sea of Dust had "dust lakes" which acted like water, including supporting boats and allowing people to swim through it.

** The Dark Sun setting has the Sea of Silt. This is a semi-aversion; although it has enough sea-like characteristics to qualify for the trope (pseudo-sailing vessels, silt-monsters), there are also many notable differences. It's described as essentially a gigantic basin full of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_quicksand dry quicksand]]. In the 4E update of the setting, [[AuthorsSavingThrow it was declared]] that the Sea of Silt is caused by Elemental Chaos leaking through and changing local physics.

** Taken to its logical conclusion with Hippopotas, Hippowdon and the Sandile family; Ground-type sand hippos and sand crocodiles respectively.

This is often a feature of the ShiftingSandLand or the ThirstyDesert. For another substance that is often treated like funny-looking water, see LavaIsBoilingKoolAid.

Compare SpaceIsAnOcean, TheSkyIsAnOcean. Contrast WaterIsAir. %%[[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused with]] SeaOfSand.

Compare SpaceIsAnOcean, TheSkyIsAnOcean. Contrast WaterIsAir. [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused with]] SeaOfSand.

Compare SpaceIsAnOcean, TheSkyIsAnOcean. Contrast WaterIsAir.

** ''VideoGame/GoldenSun2001'' features an entire dungeon (Venus Lighthouse) devoted to solving puzzles with this trope.

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* Oddly enough, there is an animal known as a "sandfish" which swims through sand - although it's a [[http://www.physorg.com/news166973246.html skink]] and not an actual fish of course. Marsupial moles and desert-dwelling golden moles also sort of "swim" through sand as well. Presumably, this trick won't work well with larger animals (less thrust relative to surface area), so don't expect any real life sand worms.

* ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime2Echoes''. The ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'' series in general usually replaces water with acid and/or lava.
* ''VideoGame/GoldenSun'' features an entire dungeon (Venus Lighthouse) devoted to solving puzzles with this trope. And in ''The Lost Age'', you get a spell that lets you swim under sand (technically, you turn yourself into a sentient, mobile pile of sand). Which you use in the last dungeon to swim through glass panels to avoid a flamethrower.
* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros''

* The avalanche in ''Disney/{{Mulan}}'' is more Snow Is Water. Which, well, it is, though it doesn't usually behave ''exactly'' like it.

* Portishead's "Roads" plays

* The ''Manga/{{Area 88}}'' manga features a desert aircraft carrier: an aircraft carrier on tracks that can ''submerge itself in the sand'' and move around 'underwater.' It doesn't dive like a submarine, though; it pumps sand up to bury itself. It also has a few problems with overheating.

* The terrain of the desert world of ''Anime/ProjectAKO: Blue Side/Grey Side'' seems to shift from sand to water at the whim of the writers and animators.

* Played straight in ''Manga/CardcaptorSakura'' when Sakura and Syaoran are attacked by "The Sand" card whose main power appears to be this trope, even creating a sand whirlpool!

* The ''Anime/ProjectAKo'' OAV ''Uncivil Wars'', a mercenary trying to kidnap C-Ko has a craft that travels through sand like a submarine. B-Ko even use depth charges to attack the craft.

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* The avalanche in ''Disney/{{Mulan}}'' is more Snow Is Water. Which, well, it is, though it doesn't usually behave ''exactly'' like it.

* Invoked in ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfTintin''. Tintin and Captain Haddock are in a desert when Haddock tells Tintin about his ancestor as he looks out over the sand dunes. Cue a virtually seamless transition between the dunes and a ship sailing on the ocean waves.

* The avalanche in ''Disney/{{Mulan}}'' is more Snow Is Water. Which, well, [[CaptainObvious it is]], though it doesn't usually behave ''exactly'' like it.

* Played straight in ''Manga/CardcaptorSakura'' when Sakura and Syaoran are attacked by "The Sand" card whose main power appears to be this trope, even creating a sand whirpool!

* ''Franchise/{{Dune}}'''s sandworms swam through the deserts like they were water. The sandworms also generated intense heat and triggered some extremely powerful electromagnetic storms from all the friction. The sandworms' larvae are plankton-like and serve a similar function in the sand ecology.
** Played even straighter with tidal dust basins, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin basins of dust so deep they have tides]], which an unwary traveler can wander into and die.

* The Sea of Rust in ''VideoGame/TransformersFallOfCybertron'' is a variant; it's still effectively a dust-ocean, but the "powder" that serves as a water-substitute is actually untold billions of tons of [[MeaningfulName rust flakes]], created when some unknown disaster corroded an entire continent-sized mass of [[CityPlanet Cybertron]] in a comparative instant.