Known as Canada's first lifesaving competition series, the Nova Scotia Surf League operated its first season of competition in the year 2000.

The Surf League is operated by the Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service (NSLS) and consists of four to six surf lifesaving competitions throughout the summer between late June and the end of August.

Teams participate in a series of competitions and earn points based on their performances within each competition. At the end of the summer, the club with the greatest number of points accumulated in the overall standings is named the league champion.

Surf League has helped to establish and maintain Nova Scotia's reputation for having some of the top surf trained lifeguards in Canada, and has helped to increase exposure to the sport of lifesaving. The series was established in the spirit of the Lifesaving Society's objective to establish a lifesaving competition system in Canada that is consistent with world events and standards.