How to carry camera on a kayak? How to recharge batteries?

Olympus Camedia 5050

An excellent digital camera, with a 5 megapixel sensor and a super bright f 1.8 lens, 35-105mm equivalent. Works in totally automatic mode (point and shot) as well as in manual (*every* camera's function can controlled by the photographer, like any professional reflex). I use it also to take panoramic pictures (because it is easier and cheaper, if compared to traditional film) and in any difficult condition where it is important to preview a picture immediately after a shot. Thanks to its very bright lens, it is easy to take pictures in interiors without using a flash (useful in museums, where flashes are often not permitted). The camera accepts standard AA batteries so, when traveling where there aren't charging facilities, just be sure to carry enough full charged batteries.

Panasonic DMC-FZ10
Superzoom camera with 4 megapixel sensor, 35-420mm optics, plus 3x digital zoom. The lens is f2.8 through the entire zoom range and it is stabilized (I can often take perfectly steady pictures at 35mm, with an exposure of 1/5th sec.). I use this camera mainly for wildlife shots and for special effects on landscape. Additional power when travelling in palces without charging facilities, can be efficiently supplied by external power packs.

Canon Powershot A70
A compact, good 3 megapixel camera, that can be carried inside a pocket. It is useful to take pictures from small spaces (for example, form the aircrafts) or where may be difficult or unconfortable to use the bigger Olympus 5050. This camera accepts regular AA batteries.

Pelican hard cases
These cases can be tied on top of the kayak and will protect your cameras and other electronic during kayak trips. The place where the case is tied on the kayak, can be easily reached while paddling, this means that you can open it, take camera, take pictures and close it again, throughout the trip (also while you are on water). I've used model 1450 for Olympus and Panasonic camera, plus several accessories, and model 1200 for the portable CD recorder and hard drive. The cases are waterproof and also protect the equipment from heavy mechanical shocks.

EWA-Marine universal camera bag
Can be used to protect the camera from water and works underwater up to a depth of about 5 metres. It is available in several sizes to fit the most common cameras and camcorders. Using this bag, you can keep your camera on your body, since it will protect from water sprays.

The equipment is integrated with additional lenses (wide angle and tele), a professional external flash , flash bracket, tripod, polarizer filter, neutral density graduated filter and a series of step rings which let me to use all the lenses and filters on either Olympus or Canon (but not Panasonic).

A portable CD recorder, stand alone (no PC required) lets me to burn the CDs on place (it accepts the memory cards directly and burns the CD with a single button press), giving me a virtually unlimited picture capacity. Just to be safe, an additional backup of the pictures is made each time on a portable hard drive, accepting memory cards (no PC required).

As there are no opportunities to recharge batteries on Ellesmere, I've built a battery pack based on standard and inexpensive AA batteries (regular or rechargeable). In can be connected to the portable CD recorder, portable hard drive and Panasonic camera, through home-made adapters. Canon and Olympus already use AA batteries and thence no external battery pack is required.

Taking pictures during a kayak expedition to remote places