Condensed Consolidated Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Financial Information (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Net income (loss), including noncontrolling interests	$ 68,744	$ (102,075)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	0	0
Other adjustments	181,829	238,475
Net cash provided by operating activities	250,573	136,400
Capital expenditures	(106,122)	(135,612)
Investments In Equity Investments	(2,699)	(6,307)
Distributions from equity investments, net	1,593	8,132
Proceeds from sale of Cal Dive common stock	3,588	0
Insurance recovery	0	16,106
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash	863	109
Net cash used in investing activities	(102,777)	(117,572)
Repayments of debt	(114,698)	(5,733)
Deferred financing costs	(9,014)	(2,792)
Preferred stock dividends paid	(20)	(94)
Repurchases of common stock	(1,012)	(9,127)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation	(1,196)	(2,163)
Exercise of stock options, net	1,672	163
Intercompany financing	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(124,268)	(19,746)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(424)	246
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	23,104	(672)
Balance, beginning of year	391,085	270,673
Balance, end of period	414,189	270,001
Helix [Member]
Net income (loss), including noncontrolling interests	67,117	(95,034)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	(107,036)	64,736
Other adjustments	21,261	17,776
Net cash provided by operating activities	(18,658)	(12,522)
Capital expenditures	(15,699)	(47,963)
Investments In Equity Investments	0	0
Distributions from equity investments, net	0	0
Proceeds from sale of Cal Dive common stock	3,588
Insurance recovery		7,020
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(12,111)	(40,943)
Repayments of debt	(111,191)	(2,163)
Deferred financing costs	(9,014)	(2,792)
Preferred stock dividends paid	(20)	(94)
Repurchases of common stock	(1,012)	(9,127)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation	(1,196)	(2,163)
Exercise of stock options, net	1,672	163
Intercompany financing	162,868	62,654
Net cash used in financing activities	42,107	46,478
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	11,338	(6,987)
Balance, beginning of year	376,434	258,742
Balance, end of period	387,772	251,755
Guarantors [Member]
Net income (loss), including noncontrolling interests	76,691	(80,702)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	1,468	(3,105)
Other adjustments	180,193	243,919
Net cash provided by operating activities	258,352	160,112
Capital expenditures	(76,331)	(80,203)
Investments In Equity Investments	0	0
Distributions from equity investments, net	0	0
Proceeds from sale of Cal Dive common stock	0
Insurance recovery		9,086
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash	863	109
Net cash used in investing activities	(75,468)	(71,008)
Repayments of debt	0	0
Deferred financing costs	0	0
Preferred stock dividends paid	0	0
Repurchases of common stock	0	0
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation	0	0
Exercise of stock options, net	0	0
Intercompany financing	(183,765)	(86,591)
Net cash used in financing activities	(183,765)	(86,591)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(881)	2,513
Balance, beginning of year	3,294	2,522
Balance, end of period	2,413	5,035
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Net income (loss), including noncontrolling interests	30,448	20,344
Equity in earnings of affiliates	0	0
Other adjustments	(14,149)	(13,101)
Net cash provided by operating activities	16,299	7,243
Capital expenditures	(14,092)	(7,446)
Investments In Equity Investments	(2,699)	(6,307)
Distributions from equity investments, net	1,593	8,132
Proceeds from sale of Cal Dive common stock	0
Insurance recovery		0
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(15,198)	(5,621)
Repayments of debt	(3,507)	(3,570)
Deferred financing costs	0	0
Preferred stock dividends paid	0	0
Repurchases of common stock	0	0
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation	0	0
Exercise of stock options, net	0	0
Intercompany financing	15,477	5,504
Net cash used in financing activities	11,970	1,934
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(424)	246
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	12,647	3,802
Balance, beginning of year	11,357	9,409
Balance, end of period	24,004	13,211
Consolidating Entries [Member]
Net income (loss), including noncontrolling interests	(105,512)	53,317
Equity in earnings of affiliates	105,568	(61,631)
Other adjustments	(5,476)	(10,119)
Net cash provided by operating activities	(5,420)	(18,433)
Capital expenditures	0	0
Investments In Equity Investments	0	0
Distributions from equity investments, net	0	0
Proceeds from sale of Cal Dive common stock	0
Insurance recovery		0
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	0	0
Repayments of debt	0	0
Deferred financing costs	0	0
Preferred stock dividends paid	0	0
Repurchases of common stock	0	0
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation	0	0
Exercise of stock options, net	0	0
Intercompany financing	5,420	18,433
Net cash used in financing activities	5,420	18,433
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Balance, beginning of year	0	0
Balance, end of period	$ 0	$ 0