<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii"?>
<!--XBRL document created with Toppan Merrill Bridge  9.6.7713.40453 -->
<!--Based on XBRL 2.1-->
<!--Created on: 4/27/2021 12:40:40 AM-->
<!--Modified on: 4/27/2021 12:40:40 AM-->
<link:linkbase xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase http://www.xbrl.org/2003/xbrl-linkbase-2003-12-31.xsd" xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase" xmlns:xbrli="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
  <roleRef xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="hlx-20210426.xsd#DocumentDocumentAndEntityInformation" roleURI="http://www.helixesg.com/role/DocumentDocumentAndEntityInformation" xmlns="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase" />
  <presentationLink xlink:role="http://www.helixesg.com/role/DocumentDocumentAndEntityInformation" xlink:type="extended" xlink:title="00090 - Document - Document and Entity Information" xmlns="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase">
    <loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_CoverAbstract" xlink:label="CoverAbstract" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentType" xlink:label="dei_DocumentType_637550808401216207" />
    <presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="CoverAbstract" xlink:to="dei_DocumentType_637550808401216207" order="1" use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate" xlink:label="dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_637550808401216207" />
    <presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="CoverAbstract" xlink:to="dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_637550808401216207" order="2" use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityFileNumber" xlink:label="dei_EntityFileNumber_637550808401216207" />
    <presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="CoverAbstract" xlink:to="dei_EntityFileNumber_637550808401216207" order="3" use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityRegistrantName" xlink:label="dei_EntityRegistrantName_637550808401216207" />
    <presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="CoverAbstract" xlink:to="dei_EntityRegistrantName_637550808401216207" order="4" use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode" xlink:label="dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_637550808401216207" />
    <presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="CoverAbstract" xlink:to="dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_637550808401216207" order="5" use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber" xlink:label="dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_637550808401216207" />
    <presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="CoverAbstract" xlink:to="dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_637550808401216207" order="6" use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1" xlink:label="dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_637550808401216207" />
    <presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="CoverAbstract" xlink:to="dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_637550808401216207" order="7" use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2" xlink:label="dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_637550808401216207" />
    <presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="CoverAbstract" xlink:to="dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2_637550808401216207" order="8" use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown" xlink:label="dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_637550808401216207" />
    <presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="CoverAbstract" xlink:to="dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_637550808401216207" order="9" use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince" xlink:label="dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_637550808401216207" />
    <presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="CoverAbstract" xlink:to="dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_637550808401216207" order="10" use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode" xlink:label="dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_637550808401216207" />
    <presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="CoverAbstract" xlink:to="dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_637550808401216207" order="11" use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_CityAreaCode" xlink:label="dei_CityAreaCode_637550808401216207" />
    <presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="CoverAbstract" xlink:to="dei_CityAreaCode_637550808401216207" order="12" use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_LocalPhoneNumber" xlink:label="dei_LocalPhoneNumber_637550808401216207" />
    <presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="CoverAbstract" xlink:to="dei_LocalPhoneNumber_637550808401216207" order="13" use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_WrittenCommunications" xlink:label="dei_WrittenCommunications_637550808401226200" />
    <presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="CoverAbstract" xlink:to="dei_WrittenCommunications_637550808401226200" order="14" use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_SolicitingMaterial" xlink:label="dei_SolicitingMaterial_637550808401226200" />
    <presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="CoverAbstract" xlink:to="dei_SolicitingMaterial_637550808401226200" order="15" use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer" xlink:label="dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_637550808401226200" />
    <presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="CoverAbstract" xlink:to="dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_637550808401226200" order="16" use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer" xlink:label="dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_637550808401226200" />
    <presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="CoverAbstract" xlink:to="dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_637550808401226200" order="17" use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_Security12bTitle" xlink:label="dei_Security12bTitle_637550808401226200" />
    <presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="CoverAbstract" xlink:to="dei_Security12bTitle_637550808401226200" order="18" use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_TradingSymbol" xlink:label="dei_TradingSymbol_637550808401226200" />
    <presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="CoverAbstract" xlink:to="dei_TradingSymbol_637550808401226200" order="19" use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_SecurityExchangeName" xlink:label="dei_SecurityExchangeName_637550808401237599" />
    <presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="CoverAbstract" xlink:to="dei_SecurityExchangeName_637550808401237599" order="20" use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany" xlink:label="dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_637550808401237599" />
    <presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="CoverAbstract" xlink:to="dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_637550808401237599" order="21" use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityCentralIndexKey" xlink:label="dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_637550808401237599" />
    <presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="CoverAbstract" xlink:to="dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_637550808401237599" order="22" use="optional" />
    <loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020/dei-2020-01-31.xsd#dei_AmendmentFlag" xlink:label="dei_AmendmentFlag_637550808401237599" />
    <presentationArc xlink:type="arc" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="CoverAbstract" xlink:to="dei_AmendmentFlag_637550808401237599" order="23" use="optional" />
  </presentationLink>
</link:linkbase>
