FORM 6-K


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D. C. 20549



                        Report of Foreign Private Issuer
                      Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                            For the month of May 2006


                               DIANA SHIPPING INC.
                 (Translation of registrant's name into English)

                               Diana Shipping Inc.
                                   Pendelis 16
                              175 64 Palaio Faliro
                                 Athens, Greece

                    (Address of principal executive offices)

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

                      Form 20-F [X]       Form 40-F [_]

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

                         Yes [_]       No [X]




INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM 6-K REPORT

     Attached to this Report on Form 6-K as Exhibit 1 is a copy of the press
release issued by Diana Shipping Inc. (the "Company") on May 9, 2006, which
schedules the Company's first quarter 2006 earnings release, dividend
declaration and conference call.




EXHIBIT 1
---------

                                         Corporate Contact:
                                         Ioannis Zafirakis
                                         Director and Vice-President
                                         Telephone: + 30-210-9470100
                                         Email: izafirakis@dianashippinginc.com
For Immediate Release
---------------------

                                         Investor and Media Relations:
                                         Edward Nebb
                                         Euro RSCG Magnet
                                         Telephone: + 1-212-367-6848
                                         Email: ed.nebb@eurorscg.com


  DIANA SHIPPING INC. SCHEDULES FIRST QUARTER 2006 EARNINGS RELEASE, DIVIDEND
                         DECLARATION AND CONFERENCE CALL


ATHENS, GREECE, May 9, 2006 - Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE: DSX), a global shipping
transportation company specializing in dry bulk cargoes, today announced that
its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2006, are scheduled
to be released after the close of the U.S. financial markets on Thursday, May
11, 2006.

     The declaration of the Company's cash dividend for the quarter ended March
31, 2006 also will be announced at that time.

     The Company's management will conduct a conference call and simultaneous
Internet webcast to review these results at 10:00 A.M. (Eastern Time) on Friday,
May 12, 2006.

     Investors may access the webcast by visiting the Company's website at
www.dianashippinginc.com, and clicking on the webcast link. The webcast also is
accessible at www.viavid.net, by clicking on the Diana Shipping link under
"Events". The conference call also may be accessed by telephone by dialing
1-877-692-2086 (for U.S.-based callers) or 1-973-935-8599 (for international
callers).

     A replay of the webcast will be available soon after the completion of the
call and will be accessible on both www.dianashippinginc.com and www.viavid.net.
A telephone replay will be available by dialing 1-877-519-4471 (for U.S.-based
callers) or 1-973-341-3080 (for international callers); callers must use the PIN
number 7358810.

About the Company

     Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE: DSX) is a global provider of shipping
transportation services. The Company specializes in transporting dry bulk
cargoes, including such commodities as iron ore, coal, grain and other materials
along worldwide shipping routes.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking
statements.  The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe
harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage
companies to provide prospective information about their business.
Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives,
goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and
other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts.

The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this
cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words
"believe," "except," "anticipate," "intends," "estimate," "forecast," "project,"
"plan," "potential," "will," "may," "should," "expect" pending and similar
expressions identify forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various
assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions,
including without limitation, our management's examination of historical
operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from
third parties.  Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when
made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant
uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and
are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish
these expectations, beliefs or projections.

In addition to these important factors other important factors that, in our
view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in
the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and
currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates
and vessel values, changes in demand for dry bulk shipping capacity, changes in
our operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs,
the market for our vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, changes
in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory
authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general
domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of
shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessels breakdowns and
instances of off-hires and other factors.  Please see our filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and
other risks and uncertainties.

                                      # # #




                                   SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                               DIANA SHIPPING INC.
                                  (registrant)


Dated:  May 9, 2006                      By: /s/ Anastassis Margaronis
                                             --------------------------
                                                 Anastassis Margaronis
                                                 President



02351 0001 668419