The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word VORTICES
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
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Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Maelstroms" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case maelstroms = vortices.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
Crossword Answer definitions
VORTICES noun- A whirlwind, whirlpool, or similarly moving matter in the form of a spiral or column.
- Anything that involves constant violent or chaotic activity around some centre.
- Anything that inevitably draws surrounding things into its current.
- A supposed collection of particles of very subtle matter, endowed with a rapid rotary motion around an axis which was also the axis of a sun or planet; part of a Cartesian theory accounting for the formation of the universe, and the movements of the bodies composing it.
- Any of numerous species of small Turbellaria belonging to Vortex and allied genera.