EXHIBIT 99.1
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                 CONTACT: Caren W. Steffes
Thursday, April 25, 2002                                         (281) 492-5393


             OCEAN BARONESS EXPERIENCES FAILURE OF RISER CONNECTION

Houston, Texas, April 25, 2002 - Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (NYSE: DO)
announced today that the Ocean Baroness experienced a parting of its marine
riser during operations offshore Malaysia on April 22, 2002 in 5,700 feet of
water. No injuries were sustained in this incident and the well has been secured
without incident and successfully plugged. The drilling unit is undamaged. Known
damage is limited to subsurface elements of the riser. Damage to the blow out
preventer is not evident; however, a detailed inspection will be required
following recovery operations.

It appears from video taken by underwater cameras that bolt assemblies failed at
a riser connection, causing the riser to separate. Presently the riser is parted
approximately 2,300 feet below the surface of the water and is supported both by
the rig's riser tensioning system and drillpipe, which extends from the rig
floor, past the separation and through the well head.

The Company is currently in consultation with the riser manufacturer, its
customer and several contractors in order to develop a recovery and repair plan.
At this time, the Company cannot be definitive about the duration of its
recovery and remediation efforts. However, the Company believes successful
recovery and repair of the subsea equipment can be conducted.

The Ocean Baroness departed the shipyard and began its 120-day contract on March
17, 2002, and had operated successfully prior to the riser failure.

Diamond Offshore is a leader in deep water drilling. The Company's fleet of 45
offshore drilling rigs consists of 30 semisubmersibles, 14 jack-ups and one
drillship. The fleet operates in the waters of six of the world's seven
continents.

Statements in this press release that contain "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 are
inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those 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 filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Given these concerns, investors and analysts
should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

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.