UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549


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                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934




Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):     SEPTEMBER 16, 2004
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                         DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING, INC.
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               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)



         DELAWARE                       1-13926                  76-0321760
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(State or Other Jurisdiction    (Commission File Number)       (IRS Employer
     of Incorporation)                                      Identification No.)


                               15415 KATY FREEWAY
                              HOUSTON, TEXAS 77094
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              (Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code:       (281) 492-5300
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                                 NOT APPLICABLE
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          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)



     Check the appropriate line below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:


[ ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
     (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
     (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



                    INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT


ITEM 8.01.  OTHER EVENTS

         On September 16, 2004, Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (the "Company")
issued a press release announcing certain aspects of the status of its fleet of
offshore drilling rigs in the path of Hurricane Ivan, including that the
semisubmersible drilling rig Ocean Star had drifted from its moored location in
the Gulf of Mexico. Filed herewith is a copy of such press release.

         Statements in this report that contain "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, may include, but
are not limited to, statements regarding apparent or potential damage to the
Company's offshore drilling rigs, pollution, re-boarding and restoring power to
the rigs, movement of the rigs back to operating positions and recommencement of
operations, and other aspects of the Company's drilling rigs. Such statements
are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or projected. A
discussion of the risk factors that could impact these areas and the Company's
overall business and financial performance can be found in the Company's reports
and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These factors
include, among others, general economic and business conditions, casualty
losses, industry fleet capacity, changes in foreign and domestic oil and gas
exploration and production activity, competition, changes in foreign, political,
social and economic conditions, regulatory initiatives and compliance with
governmental regulations, customer preferences and various other matters, many
of which are beyond the Company's control. Given these concerns, investors and
analysts should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Each
forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this report. The Company
expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any
updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in
the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events,
conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

ITEM 9.01.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

         (c)      Exhibits.


     Exhibit number        Description
     --------------        -----------

          99.1             Press release of September 16, 2004



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                                   SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                      Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.


                                      By:  /s/ William C. Long
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         William C. Long
                                         Vice President, General Counsel
                                         and Secretary


Dated:  September 16, 2004


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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



     Exhibit number        Description
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         99.1              Press release of September 16, 2004





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