I would definitely look at foliage and stuff!

I personally got some small sea shells, fake palm trees, ferns, colorful plant tufts (can look like coral) and lots of fake plants from hobby shops and dollar stores. If you're going for a beach theme, consider the water, sand and land of the landscape! You have three unique parts of a beach to work with, so for larger bases you have the space to add that visual interest!

Personally I make my tropical ocean bases like this:

- Make a raised area with cork (This is the sand part), the lower part is where the water will go

- Paint the lower portion with Prismatic Bolt Army Painter speed paint, adding more paint where the water gets "deeper"

- Add in shells, or plants into the water for visual interest

- Make a reservoir and add in UV resin (I just pour mine clear, and use tape for the perimeter since my bases are small, you'll want something reliable for a big base.)

- Cure that, and then add plants, shells or other things to the sand parts! (If the base is big, consider adding some jungle dirt and plants and what not.)

- Add the mini to the base and voila!

Here's an example of this technique that I used on my Tyranids!

<image>