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):      OCTOBER 11, 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 7.01.  REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

        The Registrant hereby incorporates by reference into this Item 7.01 the
summary report of the status, as of October 11, 2004, of the offshore drilling
rigs of the Registrant attached as Exhibit 99.1, which is being furnished in
accordance with Rule 101(e)(1) under Regulation FD and shall not be deemed to be
filed.

        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, include, but are
not limited to, statements regarding the current term, start and end dates and
comments concerning future contracts and availability and other aspects of the
Registrant'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 Registrant's overall business and financial
performance can be found in the Registrant's reports and other documents filed
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 Registrant'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 the rig status report,
and the Registrant undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements.


ITEM 9.01.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

         (c)      Exhibits.

<Table>
<Caption>
     Exhibit number        Description
     --------------        -----------
                        
          99.1             Rig Status Report as of October 11, 2004
</Table>


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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:  October 11, 2004


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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


<Table>
<Caption>

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

                        
         99.1              Rig Status Report as of October 11, 2004
</Table>


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