The body of a man found in waters off Bondi Beach in Sydney's east has been formally identified as an international student studying at Sydney University.

Emergency services were called to the southern end of the beach on June 6 after reports a man was in distress in the water.

A large-scale, three-day search failed to find the man, but on Saturday a body was found about 450 metres east of Bondi Beach.

Dental records were used to formally identify the body as 20-year-old American citizen Endicott Ackerman.

Mr Ackerman was a science student at the University of Sydney.

The 20-year-old went missing during wild weather which brought a huge swell last week.

Witnesses reported seeing a man jumping in or being swept into the water.