<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:ns2="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <headerData>
        <submissionType>144</submissionType>
        <filerInfo>
            <filer>
                <filerCredentials>
                    <cik>0001604910</cik>
                    <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
                </filerCredentials>
            </filer>
            <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



        </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
        <issuerInfo>
            <issuerCik>0000949039</issuerCik>
            <issuerName>DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING INC</issuerName>
            <secFileNumber>001-13926</secFileNumber>
            <issuerAddress>
                <ns2:street1>15415 Katy Freeway</ns2:street1>
                <ns2:city>Houston</ns2:city>
                <ns2:stateOrCountry>TX</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                <ns2:zipCode>77094</ns2:zipCode>
            </issuerAddress>
            <issuerContactPhone>281-492-5300</issuerContactPhone>
            <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>DOMINIC A SAVARINO</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
            <relationshipsToIssuer>
                <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
            </relationshipsToIssuer>
        </issuerInfo>
        <securitiesInformation>
            <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
            <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
                <name>Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>1 New York Plaza</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:street2>38th Fl.</ns2:street2>
                    <ns2:city>New York</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>NY</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>10004</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
            <noOfUnitsSold>5106</noOfUnitsSold>
            <aggregateMarketValue>64693.02</aggregateMarketValue>
            <noOfUnitsOutstanding>102322002</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
            <approxSaleDate>11/10/2023</approxSaleDate>
            <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
        </securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>07/01/2023</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock Units</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>5106</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>07/01/2023</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <remarks>Sales that were executed on November 10th, 2023 are being reported on this Form 144 filed on November 13th, 2023 given the EDGAR system was not accepting filings on November 10th in observance of the federal holiday.</remarks>
        <noticeSignature>
            <noticeDate>11/10/2023</noticeDate>
            <planAdoptionDates>
                <planAdoptionDate>03/01/2023</planAdoptionDate>
            </planAdoptionDates>
            <signature>/s/ Dominic A Savarino</signature>
        </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
[{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3555}]
144
0001604910
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0000949039
DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING INC
001-13926
15415 Katy Freeway
Houston
TX
77094
281-492-5300
DOMINIC A SAVARINO
Officer
COMMON
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services
1 New York Plaza
38th Fl.
New York
NY
10004
5106
64693.02
102322002
11/10/2023
NYSE
Common
07/01/2023
Restricted Stock Units
Issuer
N
5106
07/01/2023
N/A
Y
Sales that were executed on November 10th, 2023 are being reported on this Form 144 filed on November 13th, 2023 given the EDGAR system was not accepting filings on November 10th in observance of the federal holiday.
11/10/2023
03/01/2023
/s/ Dominic A Savarino