Abstract The predominant experience throughout the drilling industry is with roller cone rock bits. However, diamond bit use has increased substantially in the past five years and continued increases are likely. Diamond bits are different enough in their design and function that they require distinctly different handling and operating procedures. This paper describes such procedures from the point the bit is unboxed, through make-up in the rotary table, tripping into the hole, washing and reaming to bottom (with attention to downhole motors), establishing a new bottomhole pattern, identifying pumpoff effects if present, establishing a satisfactory penetration rate, responding to formation changes, and recognizing and diagnosing indications that may lead to the decision to trip out of the hole. This paper bridges the gap between two other related papers which describe how new diamond bits are classified before they go in the hole23 and how worn diamond bits are graded once they are out of the hole24.