EXHIBIT 23.1



            CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM



     We hereby  consent to the  incorporation  by reference in the  Registration
Statements on Form S-8 (No.  33-52065;  No. 333-74255 and No.  333-87786) and on
Form S-3 (No.  333-92388 and 333-117534) of Atwood Oceanics,  Inc. of our report
dated  December 13, 2005  relating to the  consolidated  financial  statements,
management's  assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial
reporting and the  effectiveness of internal  control over financial  reporting,
which appears in the Annual Report to Shareholders  and which is incorporated in
this Annual Report on Form 10-K.




/S/PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Houston, Texas
December 13, 2005