Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	Restricted Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] Restricted Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member] Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member] Restricted Stock [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Currency Translation Adjustments [Member]	Pension [Member]	Oceaneering Shareholders' Equity [Member]	Oceaneering Shareholders' Equity [Member] Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	Oceaneering Shareholders' Equity [Member] Restricted Stock [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 1,664,518			$ 27,709	$ 225,125			$ (718,946)			$ 2,417,412	$ (292,351)	$ 215	$ 1,659,164			$ 5,354
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(49,133)										(49,133)			(49,133)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	22,176											22,176		22,176
Restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity		$ 1,179	$ 0			$ (9,186)	$ (3,951)		$ 10,365	$ 3,951					$ 1,179	$ 0
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2018	1,638,203			27,709	211,988			(704,630)			2,367,742	(270,175)	215	1,632,849			5,354
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2017	1,664,518			27,709	225,125			(718,946)			2,417,412	(292,351)	215	1,659,164			5,354
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(148,188)
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2018	1,501,473			27,709	217,613			(704,436)			2,268,687	(313,669)	215	1,496,119			5,354
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2018	1,638,203			27,709	211,988			(704,630)			2,367,742	(270,175)	215	1,632,849			5,354
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)											(33,076)
Other comprehensive income (loss)												(37,806)
Restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity		3,213				3,085			128						3,213
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2018	1,570,534			27,709	215,073			(704,502)			2,334,666	(307,981)	215	1,565,180			5,354
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)											(65,979)
Other comprehensive income (loss)												(5,688)
Restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity		2,606				2,540			66						2,606
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2018	1,501,473			27,709	217,613			(704,436)			2,268,687	(313,669)	215	1,496,119			5,354
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018	1,415,298			27,709	220,421			(704,066)			2,204,548	(339,377)	0	1,409,235			6,063
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(24,827)										(24,827)			(24,827)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	6,246											6,246		6,246
Restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity		643	$ 0			(16,494)			17,137	$ 5,143					643	$ 0
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2019	1,391,500			27,709	198,784			(681,786)			2,173,861	(333,131)	0	1,385,437			6,063
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018	1,415,298			27,709	220,421			(704,066)			2,204,548	(339,377)	0	1,409,235			6,063
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(85,532)
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019	1,303,079			27,709	203,955			(681,717)			2,113,156	(366,087)	0	1,297,016			6,063
Beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2019	1,391,500			27,709	198,784			(681,786)			2,173,861	(333,131)	0	1,385,437			6,063
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)											(35,182)
Other comprehensive income (loss)												203
Restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity						2,443	$ (5,143)		$ 69						2,512
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2019	1,359,033			27,709	201,227			(681,717)			2,138,679	(332,928)	0	1,352,970			6,063
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(25,523)										(25,523)
Other comprehensive income (loss)												(33,159)
Restricted stock and restricted stock unit activity		$ 2,728				$ 2,728									$ 2,728
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 1,303,079			$ 27,709	$ 203,955			$ (681,717)			$ 2,113,156	$ (366,087)	$ 0	$ 1,297,016			$ 6,063