Sadly, many dive shops do not enforce many of the text book recommendation. I dove the Vandenberg at Key West, some of the divers in my group just receive their Open Water cert a few days ago and the dive master/guide let them dive Vandenberg anyway, especially with current down at 90ft.
When I was in Malaysia, the dive master wouldn’t let me go below 18 meter when I didn’t have my Advance. Yes I was disappointed, but it made me more determine to get the Advance cert!