-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HEyXSjK+jp9FkC4f3xjCkwZUMfYFJRrzXE1l+IyXkPK6NOS/5uyY3M/FdZigkm3W
 zWiDSCKL8sZO7fDCgT0Gdw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000098222-03-000018.txt : 20031121
<SEC-HEADER>0000098222-03-000018.hdr.sgml : 20031121
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031121102232
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000098222-03-000018
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031120
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031121

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LEONARD J WAYNE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001125826

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06311
		FILM NUMBER:		031016886

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		639 LOYOLA AVE
		CITY:			NEW ORLEANS
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			70113
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5045764000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 61000
		CITY:			NEW ORLEANS
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			70161

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TIDEWATER INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000098222
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WATER TRANSPORTATION [4400]
		IRS NUMBER:				720487776
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		601 POYDRAS ST.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1900
		CITY:			NEW ORLEANS
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			70130
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5045681010

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		601 POYDRAS ST.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1900
		CITY:			NEW ORLEANS
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			70130

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TIDEWATER MARINE SERVICE INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19780724
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-11-20</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000098222</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TIDEWATER INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TDW</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001125826</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEONARD J WAYNE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ENTERGY CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>639 LOYOLA AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW ORLEANS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>LA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>70113</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>26.80</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-11-20</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-05-20</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-11-20</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</val
ue></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Stock option granted under the Tidewater Inc. 2001 Stock Incentive Plan. The Plan pursuant to which the reported option was granted provides for tax withholding rights.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>J. Wayne Leonard, By: Michael L. Goldblatt, Agent and Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-20</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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