EXHIBIT 99.1


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                     CONTACT:  LES VAN DYKE
                                                    DIRECTOR, INVESTOR RELATIONS
                                                                  (281) 492-5370

      DIAMOND OFFSHORE REPORTS ON STATUS OF RIGS FOLLOWING HURRICANE RITA

Houston, Texas, September 26, 2005 -- Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (NYSE:DO)
today reported that the drilling rigs Ocean Saratoga and Ocean Star broke free
from their moorings as Hurricane Rita passed west of both semisubmersibles.
Both of the units and their well operations were secured and personnel were
evacuated well in advance of the storm.

Both rigs were tracked during the storm by onboard locator beacons. The
Saratoga is currently grounded in approximately 35 feet of water on Vermilion
block 111. The site is approximately 100 miles northwest of the rig's original
location on Green Canyon block 157. The Star is also aground in approximately
35 feet of water on Eugene Island block 142. The site is approximately 100
miles north of the unit's original location on Green Canyon block 768. Start-up
crews re-boarded the Saratoga and Star on Sunday in order to secure the units
and to further assess their condition.

Initial fly-bys of other Company rigs in the path of Hurricane Rita have not
indicated any significant damage. However, Diamond Offshore will not be able to
make a complete assessment of the condition of all of its rigs until personnel
are able to re-board the units over the next few days.

Diamond Offshore provides contract drilling services to the energy industry
around the globe and is a leader in deepwater drilling.

Statements in this press release may 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, and 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, potential damage to or loss of equipment and
resulting loss of contracted revenue due to hurricane Rita, general economic
and business conditions, casualty losses, industry fleet capacity, compliance
with governmental regulations, 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 press release. 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.

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