# Robert "Robbie" Champagne III

> Robert "Robbie" Champagne III is the Houma-based founder of C-Dive and CEO of Champagne Energy Solutions. A U.S. Navy veteran, he began his commercial diving career as a tender at American Oilfield Divers, advanced into diving and management, and founded C-Dive in 2008. His later work includes helping design the purpose-built DSV 217 and co-inventing a patented pipeline removal system. In 2026 his business joined the Chouest Group, which subsequently integrated the Alliance business into CES.

- **Role:** CEO at Champagne Energy Solutions (CES); founder of C-Dive, LLC
- **Organizations:** C-Dive, LLC, Champagne Energy and Environmental Solutions (CEES), Champagne Energy Solutions (CES), American Oilfield Divers, CEANIC, Stolt Offshore, Chet Morrison Contractors, United States Navy
- **Education:** University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Mississippi College, South Lafourche High School
- **Known for:** Founded C-Dive in 2008., Helped design DSV 217 with marine architects Tommy Parfait and Dan Duplantis., Co-inventor of U.S. patent 12152701 for a seafloor pipeline removal system and method.

## Career timeline

- **—** — Completed U.S. Navy enlistment, returned to Louisiana and began as an entry-level tender at American Oilfield Divers.
- **mid-1990s** — Moved from offshore diving into project management and later diving division management.
- **2008** — Founded C-Dive in Houma, Louisiana.
- **2013** — C-Dive acquired its first dive support vessel, Ms. Kerci.
- **2017** — C-Dive took delivery of the purpose-built DSV 217.
- **2023** — C-Dive rebranded as Champagne Energy and Environmental Solutions.
- **2024** — Named co-inventor on U.S. patent 12152701, granted November 26.
- **2026** — CEES joined the Chouest Group in March; a May 1 announcement named Champagne CEO of CES and announced integration of Alliance.

## Achievements

- Founded C-Dive in 2008.
- Helped design DSV 217 with marine architects Tommy Parfait and Dan Duplantis.
- Co-inventor of U.S. patent 12152701 for a seafloor pipeline removal system and method.

## Latest updates

- **2026-05** — Chouest announced completion of its Alliance acquisition and integration into CES, naming Robbie Champagne as CES CEO.
- **2026-03** — CEES joined Edison Chouest Offshore; reporting stated the current management team would remain.
- **2025-02** — A related pipeline-removal patent application naming Robert Champagne was published as US20250043886A1.

## Links

- Website: https://cees.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-robbie-champagne-iii-98b48a37/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/robert-robbie-champagne-iii
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Last updated: 2026-10-21