Nonlinear depth control algorithms for the hovering system of underwater vehicles are presented. In this paper, a nonlinear effect in heave motion for underwater vehicles, a deadzone effect of the flow control valve in the hovering tank and an impact disturbance are considered. In this situation, in order to choose a desirable controller, sliding mode controller and fuzzy sliding mode controller are designed and compared. The computer simulation results show that the fuzzy sliding mode control system is more suitable in order to maintain a desirable depth of an underwater vehicle with a deadzone and impact disturbance.